#... actually. he kind of already did in season 4 or 5 with his restaurant where he lied about the brains' origins

[slothydaydreamer]

Nothing funnier than hearing someone mention izombie in passing in a youtube reaction video and it being described as the "show where zombies eat brains that are ethically sourced"

I mean, for Liv and the gang that's not totally wrong, but there is a huge amount of brains that are decidedly NOT from ethical sources. 🤣

[tempenensis]

Jujusanpo #8

They go to Sendai! Itadori eats too much and get stomachache even though they have mission. Title is “Business trip to Sendai”. Translation under the cut.

Itadori (I) : “Ooh, after long time not going home, this place is nostalgic after all. I’m home, I’m home, I’m home… Welcome home, welcome home, welcome home…”

Kugisaki (K): “Oi, Itadori…”

I: “See? Just like I said, it’s like Tachika—”

K: “Roundhouse kick! How can there are two Parco?!”

I: “Whaat?”

K: “This place is too urban! Never say that you are from countryside again!”

I: “It’s not a countryside! That’s why I said this place looks like Tachikawa when we went there!”

K: “Uugh”

I: “Eh? What is it?”

K: “Nothing here really feels like ‘City of Trees’ (1). This place is just Tachikawa.”

I: “I said only in the front of station. If we walk out a little bit, you can actually feel the ‘City of Trees’. Sendai is a good place, you know.”

K: “What are doing? Boasting? Don’t act like you are city people.”

I: “Then what should I do…?”

K: “By the way, where’s Fushiguro? Is he lost?”

I: “Huh? Now that you say it, he’s not here.”

K: “Oi, look over there. He’s alone messing alone with his phone. Is he playing erotic game?”

Fushiguro (F): “No, I’m not. I’m looking for beef tongue restaurant.”

I+K: “Beef tongue restaurant.”

F: “Didn’t you guys said you want to eat it?!”

I: “O-oh. My bad. You’re right.”

K: “So?”

F: “Ha?”

K: “Did you find the beef tongue restaurant?”

F: “I found it.”

K: “Why are you getting angry?”

F: “You should understand at least that! By the way Itadori, aren’t you one of locals? Don’t you know any restaurant?”

I: “Uhh… I didn’t really eat out a lot…”

K: “Locals actually don’t eat out that much, right? So, how about that restaurant?”

F: “For now, let’s go inside the station. The restaurant is called ‘Gyuutandoori’. It seems to be a famous restaurant and a lot people goes there.”

K: “Eeh? Isn’t better to go to other place that isn’t for tourist? I want to go around the city and feel the ‘City of Trees’ atmosphere!”

F: “Tch. I thought you’d be like that. How about here?”

K: “Ooh, a restaurant founded in ’52..”

I: “Aah, I know this place. It’s famous among the locals.”

K: “The restaurant that said to be the first to started business and the ancestor of beef tongue. Hm. Nice. Then, it’s decided.”

I: “Yes, let’s go!”

. . .

I+K+F : “Let’s eat!”

I: “Delicious! Is this a lie? Is beef tongue really taste this good?”

F: “Even if you say it, I don’t care.”

K: “The strip is fine, the smokiness too, this is a perfect beef tongue. On top of it, it’s simple salt taste.”

I: “Uh oh. I think I can eat twenty bowls of rice with this.”

F: “If you eat too much, you won’t be able to do the mission.”

I: “I’m coming to the mission, too! It’s alright!! Excuse me, seconds please!”

K: “By the way, why is it beef tongue goes with barley rice? It does also come with yam…”

F:  “After the war, when the American army left Sendai, beef tongue and tails was left to the Japanese to be used. For that reason, beef tongue and tail soup were made into a set meal. After that, there was food shortage and white rice was substituted by barley rice.”

I: “The first person to thought of eating beef tongue was a genius.”

K: “The soup and soup stock are nice, it also has meat.”

F: “The misokatsu (2) also seems to be famous.”

K: “I also want to taste the one with strong taste but…”

I: “Well, since we took the trouble to come here, why don’t we try it?”

K: “If you eat too much and can’t move later, I‘m not taking care of you.”

I: “I told you, it’s alright! Excuse me, one misokatsu set meal, please.”

K: “The set meal? Fushiguro, what about the next restaurant?”

F: “Huh?”

K: “Since we took trouble to get here, let’s go to Sendai sweets, too!”

F: “Google it yourself!”

. . .

I+K: “Ooh, three colors!”

F: “This shop was founded during Meiji era, the three-colored mochi with zunda(3), sesame, and walnut fillings is famous.”

K: “If we’re talking about Sendai sweets, it can only be zunda mochi. Zunda is edamame, right? Why do you think sake snack(4) is made into sweets?”

F: “I don’t know.”

I: “But you somehow always end up telling us. Fushiguro is really kind.”

F: “It doesn’t matter if you end up not listening.”

K: “What is that, are you saying I never listen when you are telling me stuff?”

F: *ignore her, eating* “Hmm.. this walnut tastes good.”

K: “Listen to me! Anyway the right way is to eat the zunda first.”

I: “Hm. Hm. The sesame mochi is good too!”

K: “Oi!”

I: “Eat quickly, Kugisaki. Otherwise we won’t be able to go to the next shop.”

K: “Haa? You still want to eat?”

I: “Since we took the trouble to come here. I never eat a lot of local specialties. Oh! There’s also oshiruko (5)! Excuse me, one oshiruko please!”

F: “Kugisaki, you said you wanted to enjoy Sendai gourmet too, right? Just eat it already. We’re running out of time.”

K: “I’m eating!” *eating* “Zunda tastes delicious. The edamame is good, don’t look down on edamame’s potential.” *gulp* “Yosh! Next!”

I: “Wa-wait, I’m still— I’m squeezing it—”

. . .

K: “Eh? Why cold noodles?”

F: “Cold noodles seems to come from Sendai.”

I: “Eeeh?”

K: “You really don’t know a thing about locals. By the way, the place where cold noodle comes from… it keeps getting farther from ‘City of Trees’ feelings.”

I: “Um. Cold noodles is delicious! This taste good! Excuse me, gyoza and shumai, and Mappo too please.”

K: “How much are you eating?”

I: “Well, we ate sweets before? Now that we eat something salty, I’m getting hungry again.”

F: “You… you are really going to hurt yourself when we get to the mission.”

K: “Usually people choose three types.”

I: “I said it’s alright! Don’t underestimate my strength.”

K: “I don’t care.”

F: *sigh* “This cold noodles… eaten with sesame sauce is the most delicious.”

K: “As expected.”

F+K: *eating*

. . .

F: “Oi, Itadori. Oi, what are you doing?! We’re going to be late to mission!”

I: “Sorry.. wait a minute… I ate too much after all…”

F: “I told you so. How stupid can you be?!”

K: “Trying to hold back from buying and eating but finally gives in huh.”

I: “That last Kikufuku zunda with fresh cream now felt unnecessary. Mochi is dangerous— This is the first time in my life my stomach feel this full.”

K: “I thought you are an idiot, but I don’t know your stupidity goes this far.”

F: “I never saw an idiot like this.”

K: “Too stupid.”

I: “Don’t call me stupid too much.”

F+K: “What goes around comes around, stupid!”

(end)

(1)   City of trees (Mori no miyako) is Sendai city’s nickname (2)   Misokatsu : cutlets seasoned with miso (3)   Zunda : edamame cream. The one recommended and bought by Gojo when they went to Yuuji’s school lol. (4)   Sake snack : the snack eaten with sake when drinking. Edamame is a staple drinking snack. (5)   Oshiruko : red bean soup served with mochi

[janedrewfinally]

Pretty much everybody can agree that one of the amazing things about “Word of Honor” is the fact that Wen Kexing goes from 0 to 200 on the flirting scale in the space of about 2. 5 seconds. Like… Wen Kexing’s thirst is its own character by Episode Three (on the other hand, Episode Three also sees Zhou Zishu engage in entirely unnecessarily extensive hand-contact in order to snag a jug of wine in the most ridiculous way possible, so. You know. There’s that).

But what I also find really interesting is the 2.5 seconds before we get to that point, because it’s actually not immediate. Really, really, fast, but not instant.

And, considering how fast it happens, it’s fascinating to see how Wen Kexing gets there.

Because the thing is, when we first meet Wen Kexing (Great Philanthropist Edition), he’s enjoying a nice afternoon in a tavern, very elegantly drinking wine, thinking about his complicated revenge plots, possibly kind of bored but also, you know, Gu Xiang is getting this experience out in the human world on a nice day in a decent restaurant with opportunities to people-watch and learn things, and he’s happy to indulge her, and besides that the wine is pretty good as he is cheerfully waiting for the mayhem as soon as whichever one of the Ten Devils is going to make a move actually makes their move.

The Mirror Lake Sect is the smallest, and the weakest; he’s confident that he’s guessed right about where the chaos is going to start.

And he’s not really… it’s not that he’s not paying attention when Gu Xiang points out the not-a-beggar across the street drinking wine in the gutter, but he’s not the one who notices him first (hilariously, when he does see him and correctly identifies what he’s doing, it’s Zhou Zishu whose face sharpens into alarmed alertness; he did NOT sign on for this “mortifying ordeal of being perceived” nonsense and does not want it). But even then, Wen Kexing isn’t invested- it’s fun to cheerfully indulge A-Xiang, his precious girl who hasn’t had this kind of experience before, but it’s not important. Like… he’s got a lot on his mind. Finish the wine, feel smug that nobody knows who he is, pay some more groups of kids to run around reciting the second half of the nursery rhyme, remind A-Xiang that human girls do not (??) jump off second-floor balconies when they want to get someplace…

Until Zhou Zishu moves, and Wen Kexing, suddenly very much engaged, stands up and stares.

Afterwards, when he thinks about the mysteriously zippy hobo- and it’s worth noting that he has not figured out that Zhou Zishu is in disguise yet- what he thinks to himself is “this man might be the variable; I will see him.” When he is talking with Gu Xiang, he’s clearly speculating about this surprising new development while coolly wondering if she could even do anything against the Swiftly Moving Steps/Passing Cloud Steps, and his tone when he says “Four Seasons Manor” is still very cool. He’s calculating what this might mean within the context of his labyrinthine plans. When Gu Xiang asks him who that man was, he again calls Zhou Zishu a “variable.”

(remember, Wen Kexing doesn’t know what happened to Four Seasons Manor; he doesn’t know about the Window of Heaven; he hasn’t seen the Baiyi sword yet; he hasn’t spent enough time around scruffy drunk hobo dude to pick up on the fact that at least one-and-a-half of those things are fake)

Me: Variable for WHAT? If Zhou Zishu got onto the boat, what was the plan? Because “variable” sounds like Wen Kexing was assuming he could toss out the idea of the Glazed Armor and drop some hints about the World’s Armory and Zhou Zishu would act like every other greedy bastard in the jianghu, with a side of “making trouble for the Five Lakes Alliance.”

I mean, after the flirting fighting in the orchard, Wen Kexing is definitely getting more intrigued and more interested, and not just because the ongoing zippy fighting style has now confirmed SOME SORT of connection to Four Seasons Manor (and also because Zhou Zishu should clearly have found the offer of drinks and Wen Kexing's own company on a fancy boat irresistible, and Wen Kexing is basically one of those cats that heads directly for people who are allergic).

(side note: I would love to read the fic where Zhou Zishu gets on the boat and allows Wen Kexing to make his doubtless over-dramatic pitch about the Glazed Armor while Zhou Zishu seriously considers whether it's worth it to just jump overboard and swim for his original destination)

When everything is on fire, Wen Kexing is doing what he later does during the first Hero’s Conference- stand back (well, lean back picturesquely in an architectural feature while fanning himself and drinking and making meaningful eye contact without speaking) and watch the chaos, except with no emotional breakdown and very little emotional investment- aside from taking a moment to save his newly-discovered variable/possible connection to his past from a couple of ghosts.

But it really takes that night in the abandoned temple to cement his stalking interest and dial things all the way up to eleven, because it’s then that:

1) Scruffy drunk hobo dude, who he already saw save the life of an old man and a child who he just met, does it again, for no reward or reason.

2) Scruffy drunk hobo dude has the Baiyi sword? Scruffy drunk hobo dude … gives a name for himself that just might mean that this… is really….???

3) Scruffy drunk hobo dude just promised to take on the responsibility of protecting this random child he just met and making sure he gets to safety (and that has got to hit really, really hard, considering Wen Kexing’s past).

4) Scruffy drunk hobo really knows how to flirt spar in order to protect the random child and it’s very, very sexy.

5) Hang on, pretty sure scruffy drunk hobo dude must be secretly hot. And in an amazing disguise, which is like… an extra layer of absolute Wen Kexing catnip.

6) Secretly hot dude scoffed at the entire idea of the Glazed Armor and all the fabulous prizes to be won if you could get access to the World’s Armory. Secretly hot dude has the same view of this nonsense that Wen Kexing himself does? (Wen Kexing’s heart eyes about this can pretty much be seen from up on Changming Mountain).

AND to top it all off, secretly hot dude who might be… he might be…. Anyway, secretly hot dude once again refuses all boat-related offers even though they would make his life easier (Zhou Zishu: No, they definitely would not) and heads out, and at this point, he and his sexy, sexy shoulder blades stand no chance against the power of Wen Kexing’s thirst.

Which, frankly, Wen Kexing was not expecting when he woke up this morning and decided that spending the day in a tavern people-watching with A-Xiang would be harmless fun.

[hoseokslefteyebrow]

Bon 4oyage || K.SJ

Episode 1

Pairing: Kim Seokjin X Reader Summary: In which you're Jin's girlfriend of 9 years and tag along in Bon Voyage Season 4. Wordcount: 3.4k

" Y/N ah, tell me, do you have any plans for the (random date) till the (another random date)? " Your boyfriend of nine years asks you suddenly. 

The two of you are simply chilling in your shared apartment. 

" Not as far as I'm concerned, why? " You ask, sitting down beside him. 

You were cleaning up the apartment before he asked you. 

" Y'know the boys and I will be going on Bon Voyage again, right? " He asks you, lacing your fingers together. 

You hum with a pout. 

" Yeah, it's my annual miss Jin ti-"

" Not this year love. " He cuts you off, a smile on his lips. 

You raise a brow in confusion. 

" Not this year? " 

" Yeah, I've asked the company, once again. And this time, they actually agreed. " He tells you with shining eyes. 

A smile makes it's way onto your face. 

" Really?! "

It was, in a way, hard to believe. The company liked you, but never actually approved of Jin having a relationship. When you became a couple back in 2010, the two of you had to keep it a secret for 4 years for the company, and another 5 years to the public. Until now, you didn't think that they would be okay with you going public.

You couldn't believe it. Finally your waiting for each other got paid off. 

" Yes. However, there are a few downsides. " He tells you, making a bit of a turtle face. 

You subconsciously run your thumb over his hand. 

" Just so you know, I will not come if I have to wear a mask for the whole thing-"

" No, no. -" He laughs. 

" Even worse. We can't have sex. For like a little longer than a whole week. " He tells you. 

You snort at his expression. You can tell it's genuinely bothering him. 

" Is that an issue for me or you? " You ask him. 

He huffs, turning around so he can lay against you instead. You run your unoccupied hand through his hair. Sure it's basically dead, but you know he likes it. 

" Both. I know your sex drive, plus that also means like, no sleeping naked. And I have to share your attention with the other boys. " He pouts. 

You grin, bending over to kiss his head. 

" Don't worry, it'll be fine, fun even. We'll just have a pg family trip. " 

And so you find yourself seated at a restaurant between your boyfriend and Taehyung. They're about to kick off the season, and today you're just going to talk about activities and what not. 

" There's trekking and a lavender farm. " Hoseok comments as he looks at his phone. 

" That sounds fun. " You comment, as the other boys give their own opinions. 

After a bit more of catching up, the staff calls out to all of you. 

" You've all done your research, right? " The staff member asks. 

You all hum in response. 

" Worry about the activities later, pick the accommodations first. " The producer tells all of you. 

Soon enough everyone's talking again, figuring stuff out. 

" We have to sleep in a campervan for three days. " Yoongi suddenly casually pops when you're drinking your tea. 

You almost choke. 

" eight of us in a campervan? How is that going to fit? " 

" eight of us in one campervan won't be comfortable. " Taehyung agrees with you. 

" We'll probably have 2 vans. " Jin tells the two of you. 

" Y'know, there's this thing I've always wanted to try- When you wake up in a campervan and then wash up in the river. " Jungkook smiles. 

You blink at him. 

" You want to wash up in the cold? " You ask him. 

He grins. 

" If I can manage, yes. It'll be fun. " He nods. 

" We didn't do research that thoroughly. " Namjoon tells the crew honestly. 

" Forget on where to stay! We'll figure that out somehow. Let's focus on the activities first. " Jin calls out, basically canceling the producer's idea. 

Soon enough everyone starts coming with ideas. 

Jimin wants to go to Aurora¿ and on a boat. Yoongi just wants to go fishing and Namjoon wants to go on a kart trek. 

" I want to go on the swing too." Jin says. 

" The swing? " Namjoon asks surprised. 

Namjoon had this great idea to go do some kind of bungee jump activity, just with a swing, as if that would magically make it better. 

Jin hums. 

" Yeah, it'll be fun with Y/N. We can both scream our heads off. " He smiles at you. 

You laugh, swallowing your bite. 

" Okay. But that does me we really are going, okay? No backing out last minute. " You tell him, knowing he's a scaredy cat sometimes. 

He laughs. 

" Yah! It's not like you're any better. " He points out. 

You laugh. 

That's true. 

" Okay, okay, I promise. Do you? " You ask him, holding out your pink. 

He smiles, taking your hand instead and kissing the top of it, sending you a wink playfully. 

None of the boys mind either of you by now, knowing the way you two act longer than a while. 

" I promise, m'lady. " 

" We just sealed our death. " You laughed. 

" We did. " He laughs with you. 

" Well, at least we'll die together. " You tell him. 

He smiles at you and winks again. 

" That we do. "

By the  the two of you tune back in, they're talking about trekking. 

" It only takes 2 hours to finish. " Yoongi speaks. 

Apparently they're talking about Mount Cook. 

Soon enough they're all talking, and giving their opinions on it. 

" It's really only a few hours, we should do it. " You catch Yoongi saying. 

Jin hums in agreement, slurping in his noodles. 

You raise your brow at both of them. 

" Bet, you two will regret it. " You tell Yoongi, who smiles at you and shakes his head. 

He makes an over confident face. 

" We'll be fine, we'll have fun, don't worry. " He tells you. 

" Should we stay in the campervan the whole time? " Jungkook suddenly wonders. 

You make a face but don't say anything. 

The editors do catch it, as does Taehyung. He nudges you with a smile. 

" We'll all stink by the third day. " You tell him softly. 

He laughs. 

Sleeping in a campervan with eight people doesn't sound too appealing for the whole week. 

" We can play Halli Galli. " Your boyfriend adds helpfully. 

" And BTS Uno! " Namjoon adds too. 

" Camping for sure. " Someone pops, probably Jungkook. 

" Does anyone know anything about camping? What do we need? " Namjoon asks. 

" Well, we start with a tent. " Hoseok provides helpfully. 

" I've camped a few times with my brother and his friends. Most stuff is usually inside the campervan."  You tell them. 

Jimin adds onto that, explaining most stuff to Namjoon, like a table that's built in. 

" Let me see the campervan? " Jungkook asks. 

" It's huge. " Hoseok responses. 

" If it's that big, will it be easy to drive? " Jin asks. 

" The road will probably be mostly empty. " Namjoon points out. 

" We do need shower facilities. It's not like we can shower outside. " Yoongi points out. 

" We don't need to shower. " Jin says vaguely. 

You give him a disgusted face. 

" Oh yes we do. " You tell him. 

" I want to too. " Jimin says. 

" We have to think of the rest too. " Yoongi tells Jin. 

" I normally shower though. " Jin says. 

" Yeah I know. " Yoongi grins. 

" You better. " You say with a scrunched nose. 

Jimin laughs. 

" Happy wife happy life, hyung. " Jimin tells the eldest. 

Jin turns to you and looks blankly at you for a second. You raise your brows before flipping your hair over your shoulder sassily, returning your attention to your meal. 

" No, I do take showers everyday, and my lady knows, thank you very much. " He grins playfully, one of his hands going under the table to rest on your thigh. 

After a bit more of discussing about Jin's shower habits, the producer cuts in. 

" We do need to choose an accommodation besides the campervan. " He points out. 

You breathe happily as Tae grins at you. 

For a moment it's a bit of chaos, most of the boys pointing out a 9.7 rated accommodation. 

With a bathtub.

As soon as it comes into view, Jin turns to you, and you give him a cheeky smile back, yet shake your head. 

Rules are rules. 

However, a moment later they're looking at a different accommodation, with cramped rooms. 

" it'll be fun. Like old times. " Jungkook smiles. 

A moment later they're back at discussing the campervan. 

" Jungkook and I will drive mostly though. " Hoseok calls out. 

" I don't mind driving. " Hoseok tells the others. 

" I'll get a driver's license on our days off too. " Namjoon pouts. 

" I can drive. " You tell them. 

Almost everyone turns to beam at you. 

" No, no. Not you, you drive like we're in Fast & Furious. " He points out. 

You grin. 

" Then she can be back up driver. " Yoongi gives you fake hope. 

" Back up driver? We already have enough drivers though.-"

" Yeah, we can't have you drive on national tv. " Jin says quickly. 

You laugh but don't bother with it. 

This can only mean you'll be in charge of the audio right? 

Soon after they're making a song about Bon Voyage. 

You can't really follow, but you clap along anyway. 

The scene wraps up with everyone clapping. 

-

A Few Months Later

" Yah! I went shopping with Y/N especially for this! " Jin says as his bandmates bully him. 

You don't pay a lot of attention, instead busy with helping the boys pack the last stuff and checking up on everyone. 

Soon enough a staff asked you aside. 

" Yeah? " You asked her. 

" This is for you, as you're coming with and the boys' are sponsored by Fila. The company thought it'd be nice if you'd at least have a jacket of the same brand too. " She smiles. 

" Oh, that's really nice. Thank you. "  You smile at her. 

She hands you a soft pink wintercoat. It's admittedly not your colour, nor your style, but you take the jacket gratefully, happy that they at least thought of you. 

" I look good in whatever I wear. " You hear Jin say. 

You come up to the mirror beside him, checking out the jacket on yourself. 

" Noona, your jacket looks nice on you too. " Jungkook compliments you. 

You smile at him. 

" Thank you! A staff member gave it to me, it's from the company. " You beam. 

And then they're arguing over Namjoon's accent. 

" We may be in the same group, but during our days off, I only saw Jimin hyung and Hobi hyung. And Y/N Noona. " Jungkook tells the camera, smiling cheekily at him as you give him a look. 

You too went to visit him on his birthday. 

" Yah! I called you so often! " Jin argues. 

Jungkook doesn't bother with Jin's complaint. 

From there the talk is mostly chaotic. First Jin's asking about an extra suitcase (which is really yours), Taehyung is showing of his Ramen noodles, Jimin has finally arrived and you found out that Yoongi's washing up. 

" At least someone showers. " You tease your boyfriend as you nudge him playfully, thinking of the small meeting a few months back. 

" Yah! I shower too! You of all people know that. " He shakes his head, playing along. 

You grin.

Soon enough you engage in small talk with Namjoon, and you can hear Jin somewhere in the back. 

" Compared to when you went to Malta-" The staff member begun. 

" We took a lot more this time, didn't we? " Jin says. 

" My pillow, something to hug when I have to sleep separately from Y/N, a down coat, fleece, pajamas. I also packed some slippers. And some of Y/N's clothes didn't fit it her suitcase, so it's in mine. " Jin laughs. 

" Do we need to bring shampoo and conditioner? " Jin asks a few moments later as everyone's seated together on the couch. 

"  We should bring our own, we might not be able to bring them. " Yoongi points out. 

" I'm taking mine with me, you guys can use it too if you don't mind smelling like fruit. " You shrug. 

" We can also get them at the airport. " Jungkook suggests. 

" Right, Duty-Free. "

 And then they suddenly spring to the topic of food, and before hopping over to talking about who's going to be the accountant. 

You don't bother adding in on that, you've never traveled with a group of eight before, and you aren't really willing to try when it comes down to it. After that, you're all tacking up your suitcases. 

Soon after they're suddenly grabbing some random bags, and Hoseok finds money. 

How they forget money, you don't know. 

You all sing the new Bon Voyage theme song before you finally set off towards the airport. 

" Did you search for 'huge luggage' when you bought your bag? " Yoongi teases Jungkook, though his bag is just as big. 

You're walking in front of the two, your left arm linked with Jin's right, your suitcase in your right hand and your backpack on top of it. 

You turn to give him a look. 

" I'm pretty sure we all did. " You point out. 

After a moment of rare silence (The only thing you hear is the rolling of suitcases), Jin claps again. 

" Bon Voyage! " 

" Why is no one reacting? " He asks the camera with a grin. 

" Bon Voyage! " Jungkook pitches in late. 

A moment later, the scene cuts, and you all get on the bus. 

You sit in the back with Jungkook and Hoseok. 

" How did you spend your vacations? " The producer asks them. 

They all each start talking about their vacation. 

Yoongi mentions his finished mixtape, Namjoon visited lots of museums and went to Europe, Hoseok points out about how he hasn't seen most of them in a while, Jimin basically went everywhere, from Korea to Russia, and Jungkook worked on some songs. 

" Jin what did you do in the vacation? " A staff member asks. 

You snort. 

" I spent half the time sleeping and half the time playing games. " He admits. 

" I went on dates with Y/N too. " He says quickly after. 

" It's no surprise, at least he made time for you. " Namjoon grins, looking at you. 

" I forced him. " You joke. 

" I wasn't that bad. But I mostly did play games whenever Y/N wasn't around. Or slept. " He nods along to his own words sleepily. 

" Then I realized I couldn't keep living like that, and so I met up with some friends too. " He laughed. 

" You had an important realization. " Hoseok comments. 

" I did. " Jin grins

After that came the question of Taehyung's where abouts and he mostly traveled the outskirts with friends. Most were shook when he mentioned one of his friends already being married. Jin too gave you a quick glance at the mention of marriage. Taehyung also mentioned working on a few songs too. Hoseok came soon after, and he mostly worked on his solo song 'Chicken Noodle Soup', and chilled at his apartment. 

After that they spoke about their pets. When the question came if you had any, you shook your head, though you did mention that your parents owned two cats. 

After that you all got a 'travel guide' made by crew for New Zealand. You didn't open it yet, instead opting to read through on the plane. 

Before you know it, you've all arrived at the airport.

And before you know it, you and Jin are waving the other boys off. 

" Bye guys! " 

" Bye! "

" Have a safe flight! "

" So they can't come? " Jimin asked, as Yoongi did so at the same time. 

" They can. " The staff answered shortly. 

" Huh, so you can't? " Jungkook asks you, still confused. 

" No, we can, we'll just have to take a different flight, we'll probably arrive a few hours later. " Jin tells Jungkook. 

" We have a connecting flight, we'll probably arrive around the same time. " Yoongi points out. 

" As long as you two can come it's fine. " Jungkook comments. 

[ Due to issues with Y/N and Jin's travel documents, the two are unable to board the same flight as the members. Luckily, they're able to take a different flight, and arrive an hour later. ]

Time flies, and before you know it, the two of you are walking in the airport, just having checked in. 

" Y'know, I might as well have forgotten my password. " Jin jokes. 

You shake your head. 

The humor appeared to be low budget. 

Soon after he's catching up with Army through the camera, simply babbling about his plans as you too listen, until, 

" Oh, is that RJ? " He wonders, looking at a shop. 

You sigh. 

" Oh please not again, we have so many of them-"

" Let's be cute and get matching RJ's Y/N. I'll pay. " He says, pulling you along with him as your arms are once again looped. 

Before you know it, the two of you are at the check out, with two matching RJ plushies. He's got a pretty big one, while you've got a smaller, cuter one. 

Soon enough it is time to get on your flight, and time,, flies,, by. 

" Now, we are going to find the other members. " Jin informs the camera as the two of you finally walk out of the airport. 

A crew member tells him it's all good like this, and he turns the camera off, handing it to the staff member. 

" Don't you think it's a little awkward to talk to a camera? " You ask Jin as the two of you and two other staff members get on a cab thing to go to the other members. 

He shrugs, holding out a hand for you to help you get in the car as the car has a bit of a elevation. 

" Not really, we're pretty used to having camera's on us by now. " He tells you honestly. 

You hum, and soon enough everyone's in the car, and easy conversation flows through. 

It doesn't take all too long before you're at the destination. 

Once you are spotted by the other members in the parking lot, Hoseok is the first to hop over, basically jumping on your boyfriend. 

You chuckle, being used to their way of greeting each other. 

" Y/N! " Hobi smiles, looping an arm around your shoulder casually as he leads to the rest, just as Jimin literally hops onto Jin. 

Jimin fetches your suitcases as Jin is quickly waved inside to do training. 

As Jin goes inside, you turn to help Jimin, Hoseok's arm falling off as you do so. 

" Wait, let me help with that. " You call, jogging over to help him. 

The two of you get it done quickly, and soon enough you're being informed by staff of the facility about the campervan. 

The water seems to be a bit of a problem. 

" Look,  how about we all shower together?" Jungkook suggests.

" Except for Y/N of course. " jungkook adds quickly as both you and Jin send him a look. 

" Let's coordinate time. " Hoseok suggests. 

" Yah, how do we do that? We can't control everything! " Jin complains. 

Luckily, the staff comes with a solution. 

" There's holiday parks, campervans can go there too. They have shower and toilet accommodations. " He quips helpfully. 

" That sounds much better. " You laugh. 

" Okay, let's only use the campervan's toilet for emergency. " Yoongi adds. 

" If you're about to die. " Namjoon pops. 

" Let's shower all at once too. " Jungkook keeps trying. 

" We can't shower long. "

" Only 5 minutes, after that, cut the water. " Jin says, as does Hoseok.

A ton of questions later, everyone's once again getting their suitcases, and Yoongi loads it into the campervan. Soon after all of you are clapping along again. 

" Jungkook did you bring your dumbbells again? " Jin jokes. 

" That's not my suitcase. " Jungkook informs. 

" That's mine actually, sorry. " You grin, not actually feeling sorry. 

Once that's over with, there's a small discussion about who's driving what car. It settles with Jungkook driving the campervan and Jin driving the SUV. 

" Where are we going? " You hear most around you asking. 

" The guide book mentioned (a random restaurant). " You tell them. 

" Alright, if you say so. " Jin says, already getting the navigation started without further questions. 

The other car either can't hear you or doesn't listen, as they instead listen to the producer, who agrees with you. 

[ A/N: Oh my god this is a 3.4 k chapter folks,, never done dat before. Anyway, how did you guys like it?  Also, no, there will be no smut in this story, but keep in mind that Jin & reader are both of age and in a 9 year relationship. ]

[heyitssmiller]

Chop It Like It’s Hot

Chapter 6: I’ve Got a Bad Queso Loving You

Pining. Food that may or may not be a disaster. The end of an era.

Also people actually wanted to be tagged for updates?? That makes my heart so happy <3

Tag List: @heyoitslysso @unknown-and-invisible

Chop It Like It’s Hot Masterlist

@lumosinlove

  It was weird, walking into the studio by himself for the first time. Finn kept expecting Logan to be right by his side like always and it hurt a little every time Finn remembered. He walked into the kitchens where he was greeted by a sunny smile and kind eyes and dimples.

He still missed Logan, but it was hard to mope with Leo Knut around.

“Hey,” Leo greeted, motioning for Finn to join him at the station. “Welcome to the final four.”

“Thanks. It feels weird here.”

Leo hummed. “Quiet, right?”

“Definitely less hectic.” Finn agreed, leaning his hip against the counter. “So what are we cooking today?”

“Well, why don’t you tell me? We’re cooking for someone special to you. I’m assuming that’s Logan, right?” At Finn’s nod a strange, unreadable expression flashed across Leo’s face before he continued. “Okay, so what types of food do you think of when you think of him?”

Finn thought about it, then smiled. “Our first date – after years and years of being friends and crushing on each other but refusing to do anything about it – was at a Mexican restaurant. We were on a roadie and went to go get dinner together and I was so frustrated at this point that I kind of just blurted, ‘Is this a date?’” Finn laughed a little at the memory. “And Lo, he just stared at me with those big green eyes of his for a moment and said, ‘I sure hope so.’ And that was it. No more drama, no more fuss. Just those two sentences – that was all we needed.”

The look from earlier was back on Leo’s face. Finn still didn’t know what it meant.

“I think we can definitely work with that.” He said finally. “How about we elevate a Mexican dish? Something to be meaningful but to also showcase your cooking? I've got a few recipes in mind. What about grilled citrus-marinated chicken?”

Finn wrinkled his nose and shook his head.

“Alright. Pulled pork tamales with corn salsa? Polenta stacks? Chipotle Mahi Mahi burrito bowl?”

“Oh!” Finn said excitedly. “I like that one. Logan calls me Fish sometimes.”

Leo laughed. “Why?”

“Nicknames are kind of a thing in hockey. It’s considered weird if you don’t have one. I’m Harzy, Harz, Fish, and probably a few more that I’m forgetting.”

“And Logan?”

“He’s Tremz or Tremzy, usually.” He looked over at the blond, propping his chin in his hand and smiling. “You want a nickname?”

“Oh, god. With a last name like Knut, I’m sure you’ll have plenty to go off of.” He laughed, turning to head towards the pantry. Finn followed after him like the love-struck puppy he was.

“Nut. Nutty. Peanut. Peanut butter. Nutter Butter. Honey bunches of nut – “

“How have you already come up with so many?” Leo stretched to grab a bowl off the top shelf, his t-shirt shifting up to reveal pale skin Finn desperately wanted to reach out and touch.

“I’m a professional hockey player.”

“Fair enough. Can you head to the spices and grab smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper and onion powder?”

Finn grabbed the ingredients and met Leo back at the station. “Ready to get started? You’ll get the printed recipe and you can take as many notes as you want now and use them tonight.”

Finn clicked his pen in response, earning another smile. “Let’s do this.”

“So we’re going to combine olive oil, chipotle chiles, garlic, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper and onion powder into a bowl and whisk it really good. Then you can add the mahi mahi and toss it in there. Next we’re going to place it in the fridge while we start the rice.” Leo covered the bowl and set it in the fridge before reaching for a pot and turning the stove on.

“Add coconut milk and some coconut water to a pot and bring it to a low boil before adding rice, salt, unsweetened coconut and coconut oil. Stir to combine, then place the lid on the pot and turn the heat down to the lowest setting possible. Following so far?”

Finn nodded, definitely feeling a little overwhelmed.

Leo gave him a reassuring smile. “You got this. Next, let the rice to cook for ten minutes then turn the heat off completely. Let the rice sit on the stove, covered for another 20 minutes, then remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Add the cilantro and lime juice – “

“No cilantro.”

Leo looked up from his pot. “What?”

“No cilantro.” Finn repeated. “Lo doesn’t like cilantro.”

“Got it. No cilantro. I think we’ve got enough seasoning without it.” Leo grabbed another bowl and pushed some ingredients towards him on the counter.

“Now we’re going to make the salsa. Add the diced mango, chopped strawberries, jalapeño, lime juice, pinch of cayenne and a pinch of salt to a bowl. Toss it, cover it, and keep it in the fridge until ready to serve. Now we’re going to cook that fish.” Leo grabbed the fish out of the fridge and sent him a sly look. “Hopefully this doesn’t count as cannibalism.”

Finn laughed loudly. “Oh man, wait until Logan hears that.”

Leo fiddled with the settings on the grill, which made Finn a little nervous. As seen in the build your own burger competition, he wasn’t the best with grills. He’d scared away all the ducks with how loud he screamed when he turned the grill on too high and flames erupted from it.

“You’re going to want a medium heat to cook this fish. Once the grill is nice and hot, add the mahi mahi, skin side facing up. Cook these for about 4-5 minutes and then flip them and cook until they’re crisp and mostly cooked through. This is super important: remove the skin.  We’re going to be cutting this fish into chunks and having pieces of fish skin in there would be really gross.

“Last thing is to plate these. All you’re going to do is divide the rice among your tortilla bowls and add the lettuce, black beans, and corn. Divide up the fish and then top each bowl with salsa, queso, and a dollop of sour cream. And you’re done!” Leo looked over at Finn, who was still writing notes. “Not so bad, right?”

Finn gave him a blank stare, then ran a hand through his hair nervously. “Go over it again one more time?”

“Sure.” Leo pushed one of the plates over to Finn. “Want to try some first?”

“Fuck yes.”

***

Logan stood in the studio hallway yet again, waiting with the rest of the families the final four contestants were cooking for tonight. It was going to be weird, being on the opposite side of the judging table. But at least he wasn’t cooking.

They finally got the cue to enter the kitchen and his eyes immediately found Finn, who was grinning madly and running right at him – whether he was allowed to or not. Logan laughed as Finn collided with him, hugging him close. “You just saw me this morning.”

“Yeah, but I missed you.”

Logan melted a little at that and kissed him softly on the cheek. “Did you have a good day?”

Finn whined, shooting a longing look over at Leo. “Lo, you would not believe – “

“Please head back to your stations, recruits!” Dorcas called.

“Gotta go.” Finn sighed, taking a step back. Logan gave his hand a squeeze.

“You’ve got this.”

“Recruits, tonight you’ll be creating dishes for your loved ones. And your team leaders, of course. You can use any notes you’ve taken. You have an hour to complete this task and your time starts… now!”

Logan took his seat at the judges table (weird) and watched as Finn dashed off to the pantry. He made small talk with the other family members as time began to tick down much slower than he remembered from his time on the show. He turned his head when Leo sat down next to him and smiled almost nervously.

“I hope you’re not too mad at me for last week.”

“Nah,” Logan said with a shrug, doing everything he could think of to slow his heartrate down. “I deserved it. I served you guys raw pizza dough.”

“Only because I suggested you start over.”

Logan laughed incredulously. “Because my pizza wasn’t a pizza! Seriously, don’t worry about it.” He looked over at Finn, who was shying away from the grill as he threw the fish on it. “I’m glad he made it instead of me. He’s been so excited to be on this show.”

“He’s really improved a lot. You both did.”

“I’m still not sure I trust either of us in the kitchen.”

“Baby steps.” Leo said with a smile. “You’re more capable than you think.”

He glanced at the clock and let his voice carry to the contestants. “One minute left, recruits!”

Finn glanced up from his plating, cursed, and started working faster.

“Five, four, three, two, one, time’s up! Stop what you’re doing and step away from your plates!”

“I can see why you like this so much.” Logan said, eyes still on Finn as he looked down at his plates critically. “You get to sit here, no stress, and eat people’s food. This is the dream.”

“Not on this show. You should’ve tried some of the earlier dishes this season. I got food poisoning twice.”

“You did what?”

“It might’ve been three times if I’d eaten that chicken you tried to serve in the first challenge.” Leo teased.

“Why isn’t giving a chef food poisoning an immediate elimination?”

“Because then we’d have very few recruits left, and that would be a very short season.”

Finn set down his plates, smiling nervously. Logan looked down and smiled softly. “Mexican food.”

“No cilantro, just how you like it.”

God, Logan didn’t deserve him.

“Let’s see how this tastes.” Leo said, looking down at his plate. “The presentation is really nice.”

They both took bites of their food. The fish was dry, but Logan thought the rest of it was really good.

“It’s under-seasoned a little bit,” Leo commented. “And the fish is a little dry, but your salsa is perfect and the ratios of everything else in the bowl is very nice.”

Logan grinned up at Finn. “I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to you bringing this recipe home.”

“We need move on to the next contestant. Nice job, Finn.”

Finn beamed and grabbed his plates back.

***

“And the chef who will be leaving us tonight is…” Logan held Finn’s hand and waited for Leo to finish.

“Finn. I’m sorry, your time as a recruit is over. Please turn in your apron.”

Finn sighed, squeezed Logan’s hand, and stepped forward.

“It was really close, but in the end the under-seasoned and overcooked fish did you in.” Leo said, looking apologetic. “I’ve really enjoyed having you on the show. You’ve been a joy to teach.”

“Thanks for having me.” Finn said, trying to be cheerful as he handed over his apron. “I had a blast.”

After the cameras stopped rolling, Logan and Finn made sure to find Leo before they left. He was scrubbing down the grill and looked up when he noticed them. “So this is goodbye, huh?”

“Looks like it.” Logan replied, unabashedly staring and trying to memorize everything he could. Was it weird to miss someone when you hadn’t even said goodbye yet? When they were standing right in front of you? 

Finn piped up, “If you’re ever in Gryffindor, look us up. We’d love to see you.”

“Same for when you come to New York for games.” Leo smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Here,” Finn grabbed his phone out of his pocket. “What’s your number? We can send you our team schedule when we get it.”

Finn, you’re a genius.

“That would be great! I, uh, I really liked having y’all on the show. It’d be nice to see each other again.” His cheeks were red again, and Logan had to bite back a whine. He wanted to kiss those red spots so badly.

But this definitely wasn’t the time. There were people everywhere, two of them were probably leaving in the morning, and they didn’t know when they’d see him again. Or if he even liked them back.

Fuck.

Both Logan and Finn had forgotten just how awful the guessing game really was.

[hurricanery]

If You Went Away - pt. 7

A/N: This is the last full chapter of If You Went Away. I might do a little epilogue that showcases a bit of a timelapse of the next few years- but this is it! This is the end! Thank you so much for all of the support while posting this story, it really means the world to me and it was so much fun to write, even though it was a lil dark here and there.

Other parts here: part 1 // part 2 // part 3 // part 4 // part 5 // part 6

Please continue to send prompts for things you want to read in the future. I am already planning to post part 1 of something really fun in the next day or so! <3

_______

(present day)

“Can we run the potentials again, please?” Amelia’s voice permeates through the operating room, and her eyes shift to the side briefly, in time with her request.

“Motor and sensory signals look good, Dr. Shepherd.”

Amelia breathes a sigh, grateful that her surgical mask muffles it. She was usually so confident in her OR. She never faltered. Never led anyone onto her stress, if she could help it.

“There’s so much bone fragment here,” she mutters to herself, but also to the resident across from her. “This part of the vertebrae was totally crushed, we have to, we should make sure….wait!”

The resident completely stops what he’s doing, his retractors coming to a halt over the open spine they are currently operating on.

“Hold off,” Amelia stares below, eyes shifting as she racks her brain for ways to move forward.

After another moment, the impatient resident clears his throat. And Amelia glares up at him before she speaks.

“Can we page ortho?” She decides, but then determines she wants to be more specific. “Er, actually, just page Dr. Lincoln directly, I mean.”

“On it, Dr. Shepherd.”

_______

Having Link across from her during surgery immediately eases some of the stress. He moves with a hopeful confidence that influences her own, and moves with her almost flawlessly.

Along with the sense of ease Amelia feels, the ease that she associates with Link’s surgical process, other feelings start to rise. And she tries to suppress them. The personal feelings. The sudden pulse-quickening feelings. The realization that she’d woken up next to him this morning and didn’t feel totally suffocated by what that meant. His eyes meet hers over the operating table briefly and Amelia is instantly transported back to this morning.

She’d woken up before her alarm. Which seemed strange. She’d anticipated a harsh and unwanted interruption to her sleep, especially after a stressful weekend at Link’s parents’ wedding. She laid awake in bed and let the weekend sink in. The way that night had ended. And Link’s sleepy statements.

She rolled over to face him, and then unashamedly watched the morning light hit his face as he snored softly. She even smiled to herself. Until her quiet moment was suddenly interrupted by the iPhone alarm blaring next to her.

She gathered herself quickly. Dropped the smile. Let her face fall. As Link’s eyes adjusted to hers.

The same eyes that now hold her gaze in the OR.

“This is the part that’s tough,” she composes herself quickly, eyes focused. “See how it’s crushed right here-”

“Yeah, alright. Let me get in there. See what I can do,” he offers, and he watches how Amelia’s eyes widen in warning. “I won’t let anything shift,” he adds, complete assurance evident in his voice.

Amelia nods. And Link goes to work. His hands just as careful as his tone.

_______

“Thanks for operating with me,” Amelia turns her head to the side, glancing at Link as they stand side by side, scrubbing out of surgery.

“Of course,” Link smiles, “Any chance to work on a spine? I’m all for it. Plus, I love seeing you operate.”

Amelia blushes, rolling her eyes in disbelief.

“No really,” he adds. “Neuro is so beyond me, Amelia. I don’t know how you do it.”

“Okay,” she steps away from the sink, her voice cracking a bit as she avoids the compliment. She clears her throat. “I’ll go pick up Scout? And head home? God, I’m so tired….I can’t wait to get home.”

She moves towards the door, but Link quickly follows after her, catching the door and slipping out into the hallway right behind her.

“Wait, Amelia.”

She turns around, glancing at him almost impatiently.

“I….might have asked Meredith to pick up Scout.”

“....And why would you do that?” Her eyebrows pull together, and a surprised laugh escapes her mouth.

“I wanted to take you to dinner….remember?”

Amelia swallows, her face falling as the realization hits. She thought he’d be the one not to remember this half-asleep proposition.

“Like….right now?” Her surprised expression turns more stunned.

“I, uh. Yeah, so….Meredith is picking up Scout. She has Bailey too. She’s going back to our place to watch them while we get dinner.”

Amelia blinks, taking in this information. “You….planned all this?”

“Yes.”

Amelia glances around the relatively empty hallway that they’re still standing right in the center of.

“I had back-to-back surgeries just now, I’m…” She shakes her head. “I kind of just wanted to go home.”

“Dinner and then home?” He lets himself sound hopeful.

“I don’t know….” she starts stepping back, away from him. Ready to turn around and resume her route to the attendings lounge. But then her stomach growls, loudly, just as Link steps into pace with her. Giving her away completely. And Link smiles. Hugely.

“You can’t tell me you’re not hungry now.”

_______

They haven’t been to Angelini’s in over a year. It feels foreign to be sitting across from each other in the dimly-lit Italian restaurant.

But it is their favorite spot. And Amelia is hungry. So she swallows her fears and decides to let the evening play out however it will.

“I have to say…” Link starts the conversation in a playful manner. “I was pretty nervous before this, so, thanks so much for meeting me.”

“Meeting you?” Amelia stifles a laugh. “You drove me here.”

“This is a first date, remember?” Link hangs his head low, and leans forward, his muttering tone reflects the act he’s putting on. “Just play along.”

Amelia frowns, and then the waiter approaches to get their order. They order their usual. Which is always two different pastas to share, salad, and endless bread. When the waiter steps away, the conversation picks back up.

“I said I wanted to start over, right? So think of this like a first date.”

“Wow,” Amelia sighs, stifling another surprised laugh. “You really meant it.”

“I did.”

His tone is more serious now and Amelia gazes at him, deciding whether or not she’s up for this. Her next words surprise her.

“I haven’t been on a first date in ages, so. You’ll have to remind me how this goes.”

Link’s eyes light up, and he breaks out into a soft grin. The waiter approaches with their basket of bread and a couple of small salads get placed in front of them. They express their ‘thank yous’ and then turn back to each other.

“Okay, so. First date questions, right?” Link offers.

“I think we already know the basics,” Amelia grins, biting her lip, trying to think of anything she doesn’t already know about the father of her child.

“There’s always more to learn….” He trails off, thinking. “Okay new game!” He exclaims rather loudly. And Amelia almost chokes on her sparkling water before she sets it back down. “Let’s play 20 questions! I think I can come up with 20 things I don’t already know about you….or, more like, things I want more detail on.”

Amelia raises her eyebrows at this, reaching for a piece of bread as means of deflecting.

“I didn’t hear a ‘no,’ so,” Link watches her as she bites into the bread. “I’ll ask first.”

She’s feeling that pulse-racing again. Along with the thump in her heart. And she doesn’t know where it comes from.

“What’s your favorite color?”

And then her heart rate slows a bit. Relieved at the question. Because this was going to be easy, if this was the route the questions were going to take.

“You don’t know my favorite color?” She questions back.

“I could guess, but no, I don’t think I know for sure.”

She stares back at him for a moment, his bright-eyed gaze holding hers. The candle on the table flickers between them, highlighting the gentleness of his blue orbs.

“Blue,” she mutters, immediately looking down at her salad.

And Link watches her drop her similarly captivating stare. “Mine too,” he admits, then goes in for a bite of salad.

Amelia clears her throat. It was her turn for a question.

“Do you wish you had siblings?”

Link swallows his food, nodding. “I did….when I was a kid. I wished every day that I had siblings. Now? Not so much.”

Amelia nods solemnly, as her own disdain about adult siblings comes to mind.

“Dream vacation?” The questions are coming faster now.

“Paris,” she shrugs, but then glances around the restaurant. “Or anywhere in Italy. Favorite movie?”

“Batman.”

“I knew that, actually,” she laughs, genuinely enjoying herself.

Link nods, thinking of his next question as Amelia finishes up her salad.

“Biggest fear?”

Amelia’s eyes widen, and once again she finds it hard to swallow her food without struggling a bit.

“We’re getting that deep already?” She mutters. “On the first date?”

Link just nods, raising his eyebrows at her.

“Are we allowed to….skip questions?”

Link’s eyes narrow at this. But he decides to lighten up a bit. “Fine, you get one skip,” he agrees.

“Thank you,” she mumbles, moving onto her own question. “Dream job? Besides your current one?”

“Dream job besides head of ortho at Grey Sloan….?” He verifies the question.

She nods.

“I don’t know….I already have both of my dream jobs. I love the ortho department here….and I love the work I’ve done with the Mariners. I don’t have another dream job. These jobs….are the dream,” he shrugs.

Amelia sucks in a breath, setting down her fork and biting the inside of her cheek.

“Okay, my turn again….” Link continues, not catching on to Amelia’s reaction to his answer. “What’s your-”

“What are we going to do? When the Mariners want to renew your contract this season?” Amelia interrupts Link’s question with one of her own.

Link frowns, putting down his own fork and clasping his hands together. “Is that….your question for the game? We’re switching turns now?”

Amelia just stares at him.

“Do I get to skip a question, too? Or?”

She shakes her head slowly.

“Alright…” He mutters. “I think….we’ll worry about that when it happens. That’s really all I can answer for now.”

And now she nods.

“Do I get a turn now?” Link questions, uncertain of the rules now.

Amelia offers another hesitant nod.

“How will you feel….if I get offered another contract?”

Amelia reaches for her drink and takes a sip, actively prolonging her answer.

“You don’t get another skip,” he adds.

She sets her glass back down. “I know. And my answer is….we’ll worry about that when it happens….” she smirks, repeating his words from a moment ago.

“That’s not-”

“Hey,” she interrupts. “That’s my answer! And I’ll let you have another turn, since I stole yours.”

Link shakes his head, grinning.

“Deal,” his smile grows wider, and he wiggles his eyebrows up and down a bit. “What’s your favorite thing about me?”

Amelia rolls her eyes, trying to suppress her urge to smile back at him. “My favorite thing about you….” She trails off, her eyes zoning in on another area of the restaurant. “My favorite thing about you, is the fact that you brought me here….because I think that’s our waiter heading this way with the pasta, and I simply could not be more excited for that….”

Link huffs out a laugh, watching as Amelia’s eyes follow the path their dinner makes to the table.

_______

They get home about an hour and a half later. Their arrival coincidentally causes Scout and Bailey, who currently occupy the length of the couch, to stir from sleep. The muted TV provides a dim light to the living room, and they try to be as quiet as possible as they let the light guide them to the coat closet.

“Hello?” Scout’s tired voice pipes up from the couch, just as Amelia and Link make their presence known.

“Hey guys,” Link whispers as the boys begin to sit all the way up.

Meredith enters the living room then, too. “How was dinner?”

“You guys went to dinner?!” Scout looks between his parents curiously, a drowsy edge to his voice still.

Amelia laughs under her breath. And Link offers to take Scout to bed.

“And I'm going to head out,” Meredith states, as she watches Bailey practically succumb to sleep again on the couch.

“Thanks so much, Mer,” Amelia voices her gratitude, as Link helps Scout toward the stairs and Meredith leads Bailey to the door.

Amelia stands in the hallway, smiling to herself as the two pairs make their exits.

A moment later, Scout’s small voice can be heard from the top of the stairs.

“Mom looks happy,” he says simply. Sleepily, but simply. Like the observation should be obvious.

Amelia’s face quickly falls. Her smile is replaced with a look of shock, following her son’s perceptiveness. Meredith turns to her, from where she’s almost out the door, and raises her eyebrows at Amelia knowingly.

And before Meredith can say anything, Amelia is moving towards the door, ready to shut it behind her sister. “Goodnight, Meredith,” she says pointedly.

The next thing she hears is Meredith’s giggle from the porch outside. It mixes in with the sound of Link’s dumbfounded chuckle from the top of the stairs.

Amelia groans, deflecting the grin that wants to overcome her face.

She drops heavily onto the couch as she listens to the sound of Mer’s car pull away. Link descends the staircase a few minutes later. He takes in Amelia’s relaxed position against the cushions and collapses down next to her.

“He fell asleep the second his head hit the pillow,” Link laughs.

And Amelia hums appreciatively, turning to him. “Thank you for dinner tonight,” she mumbles. “I’m glad you planned it.”

“Of course,” he responds wholeheartedly.

A brief silence falls between them, and Link thinks they could almost fall asleep right there, with the post Italian food coma threatening to overcome them both.

He shifts a little bit, leaning closer to Amelia on the couch. And she opens one eye, peering at him curiously.

“I know this is a long shot,” there’s a slight seriousness to his words. “First date and all…” he trails off, and Amelia now opens both eyes, becoming fully focused on whatever he’s about to say.

“What’s your stance on sharing a bed on the first date?”

And then the mocking tone finally registers for her, and she fails to suppress her giggle. She reaches over and smacks him on the shoulder playfully.

“You’re too much,” she rolls her eyes.

“I know,” Link chuckles, standing up from the couch. He reaches a hand out to Amelia, offering to pull her up from her position on the couch. “But let’s go to bed.”

Amelia stares up at him, biting down on her smirk. She clasps her hand around his.

_______

(6 months later)

It feels like déjà vu. Like she’s lived through this situation before. An entire year after the previous summer, it’s like clockwork. The same situation once again.

Link huffs out a sigh as he grabs the last of the luggage, adding it to the pile in the front hallway.

“Where’s Scout?” Amelia mutters, entering the small space by the door.

“He’s upstairs, he’s almost ready.”

“Did he pack his new baseball mitt?”

“Yup, he’s got it,” Link offers a small smile.

And then their overly-excited, now 6-year-old, is running down the stairs, already dressed in his baseball uniform.

“Scout,” Amelia laughs, “You have to sit through a pretty long drive. You sure that’s what you want to be wearing? How about something more comfortable?”

Scout shakes his head profusely, barely able to stand still. “No, no! I don’t wanna change!”

Amelia sighs, reaching forward to ruffle his hair. Scout steps away from her touch, the additional year to his age consequently resulting in some impatience at her affections.

“Want to help me finish loading up the car, bud?” Link asks.

Scout nods enthusiastically, following his Dad outside.

The house is quiet now, and Amelia listens to the distant sounds of her son babbling excitedly outside. It feels so nostalgic. Like it’s happened before. Like déjà vu, a feeling rises in her chest as she listens to the car start up. She listens for their voices to get closer, and for their footsteps to clamber onto the porch. And then, moments later, Link re-enters the house with Scout trailing behind him.

“You all packed up?” Amelia asks Scout, a familiar edge to her voice.

“Yep!” Scout replies, his energy radiating in an almost contagious way.

“Okay, then. Guess it’s time to go,” Amelia states.

It’s familiar. But different.

“Where’s your suitcase, Mom?”

The same. But so, so different.

“I put it in the car, bud,” Link chimes in, eyes shifting to Amelia. “We ready?”

Amelia nods, glancing around the house to make sure everything is set. Set for Link and Scout to be gone for the summer. And set for Amelia to be gone, too. Because she was going, this time. Travelling to the away games every other weekend. This weekend being the first of many.

They lock up the house and climb into the car. Link drives as Amelia sits passenger side. Scout can be heard from the back seat, chatting eagerly about the games he’s looking forward to the most.

Amelia smiles to herself, glancing out the window as she listens to Scout. She feels a hand come to rest on her knee and she turns to Link, her smile growing wider as she takes in his expression.

“Thank you,” he whispers, squeezing her knee, eyes shifting back to the road. He eventually removes his hand, so that both of his palms can occupy the steering wheel again as they continue to the airport.

“Link,” Amelia matches his whisper. She keeps her eyes on him. Watching him as he watches the road. “We always fight for our dreams, right?”

Some sort of emotion waves across his features. And Amelia notices the way he tries to blink away the sudden glassiness in his eyes. She can’t quite place the reaction he’s having. But then he looks at her again, briefly. And all Amelia can see is loving.

//

Another A/N: thank u thank u thank u for getting all the way here! means THE WORLD TO ME u don’t even know. Hopefully this story came full circle enough <3 I loved writing it sm!

[fictropes]

oh boy i sure did write many words in 2020

Hi! I am copying people due to i want to.  This is a lil (well... 63) round up of all the fics I wrote this year! Cos i’m very evil @ myself and writing fic and think i’m either not doing enough, or not doing it good enough, so i wanna full list of what I actually did so I can see my own accomplishments and can maybe... clap 4 myself for once. And honestly writing has helped MASSIVELY with my depression so.. that’s a bonus. 

ALSO. this is a big huge thankyou to everyone! I only joined here + started writing in august and you’ve all been so so nice and welcoming and supportive  <333 ;_; and I know they say write for yourself... but honestly peoples comments and excitement about my stuff has just been really, really lovely and I would never have written this much without all of you cheering me on<3. 

so here is a list of everything i’ve written, organised by length and everything, so if you find yourself bored over the holidays... have a lil browse. (Sorry if u are on mobile and this doesn’t show as a read more) 

Chaptered:

Can we try again? series (M) Complete - 35k  - “Yeah, Phil. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Dan answers, softer than he’d wanted because he already knows what he’s about to do next.(or Dan doesn't turn up in 2009 and bumps into Phil 11 years later at a youtube convention 2. I like cupcakes, especially the gay variety (M) Complete - 30k - Firstly, Dan was 29. How was that a mature student?Secondly, his actual book was on the university fucking syllabus.(or the one in which Dan tries university again in a desperate attempt to prolong his procrastination, and his lecturer Phil is apparently something of a fan) 3. 7 Letters series (M) Complete - 9k - Your penpal can be the person you live with, actually. 4. There's Beans in Here (T) Complete - 2k - Phil has his wisdom teeth removed; Phil says many questionable things. 5. Roadtrip (E) Complete - 8k - “Exactly. I am right, as always.”“As always.” Dan agrees.Series 6. night shift, please (E) Wip - 27k I PROMISE THIS WILL COME BACK IN 2021 - Ten years and he’ll never get over how early he has to get up sometimes. In all honesty he prefers the night shift. 7. Still Not Calling it Fate (M) Wip - 14k - It’s become a bit of a thing, a bit of a thing that everyone he crosses paths with takes the piss out of him for 8. when i met you, a blue rush began (M) Complete - 5k - They end up in a small restaurant overlooking the sea, everything here is so blue. The sky, the sea, Phil’s eyes, the shirt he’s wearing buttoned up all the way to the top. 9. Luggage Tags (E) Complete - 2.5k - Just because it looks like your suitcase, it doesn't necessarily mean that it is. 10. Demon in the sack (E) Complete - 2.5k - Dan’s leg jiggles beneath his desk, knee hitting the table as he tries to force himself to hang up and ring the number he was supposed to ring— he doesn’t, he can’t. Long ( for me) oneshots (3k+) 11. Electronics and the Phil's who break them (M) Complete - 9k - The first time’s an accident, a proper accident— a Phil forgot how to hold his cup and now he’s watching his coffee seep into his keyboard type accident. 12. A Letter of Specifics (T) Complete - 4k - You'll know it's your soulmate because no one else on earth could be doing what they're doing. 13. The Benefits of A Weak Floor (M) Complete - 4k - He quite literally falls through Dan’s ceiling. 14. 10:35 on a Thursday (E) Complete -  3.7k - He’s tapping his pen against the paper, acting as though he isn’t asking Phil to take a sex quiz at 10:35am on a Thursday morning. 15. 2009, catboys (T) Complete - 3.2k - “You have your own ears, can’t have four.”“Why?” 16. Wrong Room (T) Complete - 3k - “Congratulations!’’ And he was expecting to hear a cry, or at least his mother telling him to be quiet because a certain baby was sleeping. Instead he heard the deep clear of a throat, a rustling of sheets. 2k-3k oneshots 17. Dinner with a stranger (T) Complete - 2.5k - @amazingphl hi! second year of doing this, sooo if anyone has nowhere to go for Christmas dinner I am once again offering..my flat (and by extension me) ;oSeries 18. Easy Lover (M) Complete - 2.4k - ''Yeah. We're always fine.'' It was always fine. It was always easy, despite always behind hard. 19. Cold Season (M) Complete - 2k - Dan is ill, insatiable and another word beginning with I. 1k-2k oneshots 20. Morose men on rooftops (T) Complete - 1.9k - “Dunno, maybe chatting up morose men on roofs is my thing.” He laughs, and it’s a nice noise. 21. Love with tongues of fire (T) Complete - 1.7k - So when Dan waltzed into the room, declaring his hunger Phil thought nothing of it. Just another night for another takeaway. 22. Your Rocks are my Rocks (T) Complete - 1.7k - Phil wants a new rock for Norman, Dan wants a peaceful life. 23. Joint Content (M) Complete - 1.6k - It started of a as a joke— a Joint Content joke. 24. 24/7 Fantasies (M) Complete - 1.5k - He thinks about Dan 24/7, constantly in two separate fantasies 25. A Conversation in Multiple Hallways (T) Complete - 1.5k - You're still here then? 26. Sharing Space (T) Complete - 1.5k - It's 2010 and dan has had a day. 27. The Obvious (T) Complete - 1.5k - "Can I use that?” He doesn’t wait for an answer, already scrawling it beneath the only three words he currently has— I love you. 28. I'm Thinking of Ending Things (T) Complete - 1.5k - Dan hears half a conversation, jumps to one whole conclusion. 29. Love Language of the Tactile (T) Complete - 1.4k - “I’m just— that’s a hypothetical.” Dan leans in this time, takes the touches that Phil always so freely gives away. “Can’t kiss in secret rooms if I leave.” 30. Don't Let the Self-Doubt Ruin You (T) Complete - 1.3k - “I’m here.” “Yeah, you’re here.” 31. Conflict Resolution (T) Complete - 1.3k - Following recent events we’ve decided it best we take a combative approach to your current workplace issues, we have booked you into a conflict resolution class this Thursday afternoon - we will not be paying you to attend. 32. when it comes to love (i want a slow hand) (E) Complete - 1.2k - And there it is, the refusal of anything in return. This is just for Dan and it always will be. 33. You're Still The one (T) Complete - 1.1k - “What’re you thinking about?” “You.” 34. Teach Me, Dad. (T) Complete - 1k - "Do you think I could be the next Mozart?” 35. The Logistics of a Clone (M) Complete - 1k - “I don’t think that’s a clone, though, like maybe more of a Doppelgänger.” Dan doesn’t know why they’re delving so deep into this, why he’s so damn bothered about being right. “It’s just literally you.” 36. All's fair in Love and Monopoly (T) Complete - 1k - Phil does not play by the rules, Dan lets him win anyway. Under 1k oneshots 37. Hide out in your heart (E)  Complete - 0.9k - The second time Dan comes to visit it’s different. 38. Oh, there you are. (G) Complete - 0.9k - So after all this, after everything, he doesn’t think anything of it when someone else slips into his dms. 39. The Boy has Attitude (T) Complete - 0.9k - “You didn’t tell me you looked like this.”“Like what?”“This!” Phil’s waving a physical copy of the magazine in his face— so that’s where he’d been. 40. Hairties (and how not to use them) (M) Complete - 0.8k - “Why would you do that? Let us settle in, nice and slow and— gently does it.” 41. The Second Apartment. (T) Complete - 0.8k - It’s a stop-gap apartment, a we’re going to get our forever home after this. 42. Japan, 2019. (G) Complete - 0.8k - NO summary, just an obviously I was going to write this after phil's post 43. Doting Man (T) Complete - 0.7k - They’re both drunk, Phil more so— definitely more so.Series 44.  Imposter (T) Complete - 0.7k - Among us is.. a bastard. 45. Ratemyprofessors.com (M) Complete - 0.7k - ‘Maybe if that Phil bloke from the English dep he’s always staring at fucked him he’d stop being so uptight’ 46. Failed Attempts (T) Complete - 0.7k - Dan enlists the help of Phil for his latest Instagram. 47. Bonus Prize (M) Complete - 0.7k - Phil Trash Number One 48. Feels like home (G) Complete - 0.7k - Home is where the Phil is. 49. We can make Forever work (T) Complete - 0.7k - It’s a moment of realising forever may sound too much to people, but we’ll get through everything together— we don’t have any other choice. 50. Scene in the Kitchen (T) Complete - 0.7k - New place 51. 4'11 (T) Complete - 0.6k - Dan is baby 52. Pillow Imprints (T) Complete - 0.6k - Dan is a menace, and Phil loves him anyway. 53. Parachute Jacket (T) Complete - 0.5k - Dan thinks Phil is obsessed with them Those few times I thougt I was goddamn Ri**ard S*ken 54. Home (G) Complete - 0.7k - It’s their forever home, because their actual forever lives inside of it. 55. secrets spoken in empty rooms (T) Complete - 1k - So he wants to be the same, but he wants Dan more. 56. Separately Together  (T) Complete - 0.9k - Phil’s soft hands and even softer words. It gets harder to leave. Gets to the point where Dan turns off an alarm just so he misses the train. 57. It's not hard to fall (T) Complete - 0.7k - Still a little bit of your words I long to hear Some more Epistolary (apart from 7 letters)  58. A Play in One Act (T) Complete - 1.1k - [Manchester Piccadilly train-station, midday, October 19th, 2009.] 59. R/AITA (T) Complete - 0.8k - AM I THE ASSHOLE FOR MAKING MY BOYFRIEND BE A WORM?Series 60. Lonely Hearts (T) Complete - 1.8k - I will not say you were crying on the tube (out of politeness) 61. Conversations of the Lazy Kind (T) Complete - 1k - eggs? wot? Smells like eggs

[mulderist]

Wicked Game

Chapter 1  // Chapter 2 // Chapter 3  // Chapter 4 // Read on A03

Washington, D.C - 1948. Fox Mulder is a detective on the top vice unit; scandal, corruption, and lies come with the territory. He is forced to investigate a fellow officer and finds the lies go much deeper than the truth.

tagging @today-in-fic​

CHAPTER 5

The phone rang three times before she answered. My jaw ached as I tried to mask the slur in my voice when I told her who was calling. I realized it was a long shot ringing her number but I needed something to get my head on straight. I told her I was in Georgetown and as luck would have it she did not have a shift at the hospital that evening. She accepted my invitation to have a drink. I confirmed her address and I said I would wait outside the building to meet her, adding to look for the forlorn gentleman with a grey fedora. We disconnected and I exited the booth then walked to the curb to hail a cab. 

Scully’s apartment building was tucked into a quiet tree-lined block on Q Street. In a town built on history this neighborhood dripped vintage charm with neat colonial rowhouses and brick sidewalks. I paced a slow line in front of the staircase then stretched a foot on the bottom step. The sound of a door opening and heel clicks on brickwork caught my attention. There she was. A vision in a short-sleeved olive green sweater with a high neck, wide-leg trousers gave way to dark t-strap shoes that peeked out from under her pant cuffs. Her ginger-red hair was pinned up halfway and decorated with a small flower. I straightened up and tried to smile as she landed on the last step. 

“God, what happened to you?” she questioned before I could even greet her properly. 

“And hello to you too.” I replied.

“Oh, your cheek,” Scully frowned, “This reminds me of when we first met.” She inspected my face without laying a finger on me. I tipped back my hat slightly so she could get a better look. In the afternoon sun her eyes processed a diagnosis and she reached out a caring hand to touch my jawline but withdrew it quickly. Fingers formed a loose fist instead as her hand dropped slowly towards her hip. I cleared my throat.

“Serves me right for interrupting someone’s lunch, huh?”

“Must have been someone important for them to leave a mark like that,” Scully said, stepping back and adjusting her handbag. I shrugged then said,

“No, just me being a nosy cop.” I found myself staring as she smiled.

“So now that we’re here, where are we off to?”

“There’s a little place I visit when I’m in the neighborhood.” I slipped my hands in my pockets and gestured with a nod down the block. She joined me at my side and we strolled for a few silent moments. Her presence helped to mute the extra noise in my head. Though with each intersection we crossed I was still checking my corners, making sure we weren’t being followed. After the little scene I caused at the restaurant my guard was up. I knew I could never be too comfortable with my surroundings and I certainly didn’t want to put her in danger.

We walked farther down Q street and crossed over to 33rd to a small bar named The Blue Note. I opened the door for her and followed inside. It was your standard set-up with a small stage on the side arranged for a jazz combo. Too early for a gig, so the jukebox in the corner played the matinee performance. Regalia from the university littered the walls but in a more dignified fashion, like the proprietor was trying to distance the establishment from looking like a run-of-the-mill college bar. Still, it was dark, smoky, and my kind of familiar. Only a couple of bar flies had landed to start their day-drinking. I ushered her through a fresh haze of cigarette smoke to an empty spot at the far end of the bar. She took a seat and I adjusted my barstool, sitting close but not too close. Scully caught the attention of the stout bartender.

“I’d like a vodka tonic and my friend here will have?”

“Whiskey.” 

The man nodded and scuttled back to fix our drinks. I put my fedora on the bar and ran a hand through my hair.

“Can you tell me about this case you’re working on?” Scully asked as she placed her handbag in her lap. I thought about how much I wanted to divulge so I kept the names and places to a minimum.

“It involves a drug ring, fairly standard for the vice unit. However the fly in the ointment is that it also involves an investigation into my partner.”

“Wait, the one who was buried at Arlington?”

“The very same,” I answered as the bartender delivered two short glasses. I grasped the drink and raised it, she mimicked the motion. “Cheers,” I said before taking a long sip and swirling the ice cube around. Scully sampled her drink as well and I continued.

“The papers painted it that he was killed in the line of duty. Now, I was there that night. It was the same night I got a hot lead kiss on the shoulder and I think my partner was bumped off in a deal that went sour.”

“Your partner was a hophead?” she asked as she twisted the bottom of her glass on the bar napkin.

“I didn’t suspect he was a hophead,” I said after I downed the last of my whiskey, “but the medical examiner ordered blood work that confirmed he was sky high.”

“Did you see who shot at you?” she asked after a beat, tracing a fingertip along the edge of the highball. 

“No, but we did get a match on the weapon. So all I need to do is take him in .”

“Let me guess, that’s who gave you the bruise.”

“Very perceptive Scully. It was one of his goons actually.” I said as I rubbed my left cheek and glanced reflexively over my shoulder. She held her glass close to her lips and thought for a moment before taking another sip to finish it off. Scully pressed her lips together and focused on her now empty glass. I caught the change in music from the jukebox; a heavy piano piece that fit the tone in our little corner of the bar. I flagged the bartender and ordered another round.  She was hesitant at first on the refill but I guess she didn’t mind my company and decided to stick around. Time seemed to slow to a halt, dripped down like molasses on a winter day.

“Enough about me and the DCPD, I want to know your story.”

“My story, Mulder? I don’t think I’m as interesting as all that,” Scully said as she glanced at her hands, admiring the tidy red varnish on the nails.

“Try me,” I replied as our second round arrived and my attention was now only on her.

“Let’s see...you already know I’m a nurse,” she began with a gesture, “I’ve been one since before the war. Schooling was no cost and once the conflict started I opted to stay home in Maryland to fill the nursing shortage. My brothers had gone through the gauntlet at the naval academy and were sent to San Diego then the South Pacific respectively. It would have broken my mother’s heart if I joined up and got shipped off too” She paused and took a drink. “My sister and mother stayed in Annapolis but in ‘45 I headed to Washington to continue with medicine. There was more I wanted to learn and more ways I felt I could help.”

“And that’s how you ended up in Georgetown?”

She nodded and softly exhaled.

“After I buried my father, I buried myself in studies, work, and other hobbies. I figured if I kept myself busy enough I wouldn’t have time to think about the loss.” Her shoulders shrugged and she absentmindedly toyed with a strand of hair then swept it behind her ear.

“Any travel in that time?” I asked, hoping she had an answer. I was shit at small talk when I wasn’t using my badge.

“California after the war ended to see my brother Bill and his family for Christmas, then last year I took the train up to New England for a change of scenery.”

“Ah, I’m familiar with that area. My parents live on Martha’s Vineyard.”

“It’s really lovely. I was fortunate to visit in the fall.” A hint of a smile crossed her lips as she recalled the memory. A pleasant silence then fell between us. More small talk followed, less personal this go around. Filler subjects like the weather and sports weaved their way into conversation. I was pleased to learn she was a baseball fan and was hoping for a better season than last year. 

The bar was getting more clientele and as much as I wanted to stay and extend my friendship with Mr Jack Daniels, I figured we should make it last call. I paid our tab and escorted Scully outside, placing a featherweight touch on her shoulder as I guided her through the open door. The air felt cool as the sun hid behind passing clouds, setting up for another storm. She thanked me for the drinks and though she was a captain’s daughter who could certainly hold her liquor, I offered to walk her home. 

As we turned the corner and walked back up the block I still felt that we weren’t alone. I kept a close stride next to Scully as we neared her building. She ascended the steps and I joined her at the door. This time her hand found my cheek. 

“I hope to see you again,” she said as she gently stroked my jawline, “But next time without any occupational damage.” 

“Can’t make any promises, doll,” I said moving closer, feeling her fingers twitch, catching a flutter of her eyelashes as she exhaled. My gaze was soft, hypnotized by her features. She grazed the stubble on my skin then Scully raised her chin and placed a soft sweet kiss on my injured cheek. 

“Take care of yourself, detective.”

Through the narrow pane of glass on the building’s door I watched her walk up the stairs, she looked back over her shoulder giving me a final flash of that flower nestled against her red hair. As I turned and walked down the steps I noticed a car parked across the street and a man with a sharp suit and glasses leaning against the side.

“Are you following me?” I called out once I was on the sidewalk, my hand on the butt of my weapon.

“This is your surveillance detail?” Skinner questioned.

“Chivalry isn’t dead yet, Captain.”

“Something’s come up. Get in,” Skinner said as he motioned to the car. I walked around the front of the cruiser and opened the passenger door joining him inside.

“I heard about your incident with Carlo Lodi today.”

“Word travels fast.”

“You’re damn right it does, Mulder. This city is more connected than ever. I had a conversation with our friend Alex Krycek when he returned the squad car you lent him. Seems that he was privy to information regarding a Vincenti heroin shipment tonight.”

“Ha! What did you have to trade for that info?” I asked. He tensed his jaw then said,

“Continued protection. It appears he’s been sitting on this since we first interrogated him.”

“Jesus Christ.”

“There will be a boat arriving at the Navy Yard tonight. Small crew. They are going to make a transfer to one of the warehouses, but it’s up to you to find how they’re moving the shipment from there.”

I took a moment to process the details of my assignment. 

“Will I have back-up?”

“Via radio. Do not engage after you make the mark. Follow standard tailing procedure.”

“If you’re going to send me on a suicide mission, can you at least drop me off in Alexandria. I could use a shower and something to eat.” Skinner gave me a sideways glance and turned the key in the ignition, bringing life to the cruiser. He shifted into gear and we were on our way back across the Potomac.

[peterstanslizzie]

Reacting To: Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (Season 3 Episode 10)

This is it people! The series finale of Kipo; Let’s get to it.

Episode Title: Age of Wonderbeasts

Spoiler Warning: Kindly proceed if you’ve already seen the episode or are able to handle spoilers

Hopefully she’s getting dressed for her funeral lol

1. Continuing on from last episode, the fireworks rigged with the cure goes off and a bunch of embers start falling from the sky. One of the Humming Bombers got into contact with one of them while attempting to flee and immediately de-mutes. I thought the cure needed to go into their bloodstream? Unless, the ember actually burned through their skin. It that’s the case, wow that’s dark....

It’s awesome that Earl and Lily are helping Molly since Molly saved their children awhile back. 

2. With her quick thinking, Kipo asks everyone to find shelter underneath her as she transforms into her Mega Jaguar form. However, that’s still not enough to protect everyone but luckily, the good humans step up to shield them with table cloths, which was heartwarming to see. 

The mutes are thanking the humans for their act of kindness

OMG. Lio and Song hugging Scarlemagne? I’m here for it.

3. Thankfully, the fireworks ended and Kipo then pleads with Emilia one last time to stop what she’s doing. Emilia, hard-headed as ever isn’t one to back down at all and makes a drastic decision to inject herself with the mutagen she sourced from the Mega Walrus, transforming herself into one ugly Mega Mute. 

Imagine seeing this in real life...shudders

4. I thought she was going to use the Mega Walrus’s DNA to make another cure that would affect Kipo. I didn’t think she would do this to herself. Kipo transforms back to her Mega form to take on Emilia before she could potentially hurt anyone. 

How many Troyson kisses do we want? Yes...hehe

5. Troy and Benson are directing everyone back to find safety inside the old burrow while Wolf joins Kipo to assist her in battling Emilia. Kipo has the upper hand at first because Emilia isn’t used to being a Mega Mute. However, as the fight progresses, Emilia is starting to get better and is landing some solid hits on Kipo. But I feel like Kipo shouldn’t be losing to Emilia since she has much more experience fighting as a Mega. I guess they want us to feel like the stakes are high.

Man, this fight is actually pretty brutal. Emilia is whooping major jaguar ass here.

6. During the battle, Wolf notices Greta nearby and thinks that she has the cure to turn back Emilia into a human. So, hopefully they can steal the cure from Greta and use it as leverage to get Emilia to stop. They split up with Wolf going after Greta and Kipo continuing to fight off Emilia. 

7. After taking a couple more punches, we see three of the Mega Dogs, the Mega Pigeon and the Mega Beaver heading their way towards the fight, with Jamack, Molly, Hoag, Amy, Zane, Label, Lio, Song, Scarlemagne, Dave, Benson and Mandu riding on them. I stan such supportive friends!

8. They each take turns kicking Emilia’s butt to buy Kipo some time to recover. Side note: It’s so cool that Jamack tells Emilia to do some “soul searching”! That’s literally the same line Kipo used on Jamack in Season 1 when he was an antagonist back then. During all of this, we see Emilia beginning to have some inner turmoil; It looks like she’s starting to lose herself in her current form.

9. We get to round 2 of Wolf vs Greta and it looks like the tables might turn in favor of Wolf but Greta is just too beefy for her to take on. While being held down in a pin, Wolf tries to butter her up with words by telling her that she’s not an idiot and she can think for herself, without the influence of Emilia. She also bribes her with all the pancakes she can eat if she hands over the cure to her and just like that, she agrees to hand it over. It’s so ironic that Greta is one of Emilia’s last followers but she’s so easily influenced to switch sides. 

Again, I don’t get why Kipo is losing to Emilia so badly

10. Kipo is down for the count and Emilia turns her attention to her friends/family. As she’s about to crush Lio and Song, Kipo charges in last minute to take the devastating blow for them; She then falls unconscious. However, Emilia’s not done yet.

Scarlemagne’s death in 3...2...1

11. Oh no...here we go. Scarlemagne decides to play hero by making his attempt at saving Kipo. He basically gives his swan song to Lio and Song. I have a bad feeling he’s going to die and I’m not at all prepared to watch. He takes off on his favorite Flamingo vehicle from Season 1 and 2 and flies towards Emilia to distract her.

We haven’t heard this laugh in ages. Also, did anyone get chills when he tells Emilia to “leave her sister alone”?

12. He crashes his vehicle into Emilia causing her to lose focus and it sets off her ‘losing herself to the mega mute’ phase. This in turn, causes Scarlemagne to crash land somewhere in Skyscraper Ridge. Was it necessary for him to crash like that? If that’s the way he goes out, I’m gonna be honest here and say I would be very disappointed with that. 

13. Emilia, who clearly is out of it runs off somewhere and Kipo, Wolf, Dave, Benson and Mandu all go after her with Lio and Song heading towards where Hugo/Scarlemagne crash landed. We then see the artistic representation of Emilia losing her mind to the mute, where her human form is quickly sinking deeper and deeper into the ocean. 

14. They catch up to Emilia and they could see her being distraught. We also know the reason why she’s this way and it’s because she doesn’t have an anchor. I love it how whatever explanation we’re being told by the characters is something that the audience should know based on past episodes. Now that’s good storytelling. 

15. Anyways, Kipo makes the decision to cure her because she thinks she doesn’t deserve to be punished this way. Really now? After all that she’s done? Maybe what Kipo means is that she deserves get whopped in her human form lol. After curing her, Kipo makes ANOTHER ATTEMPT (for the 3rd time) to convince her to make a change but of course this bitch isn’t going to change; She takes a shard of glass and tries to stab Kipo:

16. But our girl, Mandu quickly reacts and bites Emilia’s arm. She then loses her balance and falls stories high in the exact burrow her lab was located because we then see Fun Gus capturing her and taking her in as her “playdate”. Emilia is basically history. 

17. Yesss! And this punishment is fitting since she will probably be Fun Gus’s plaything till she goes insane and dies. Not to mention she despises mutes. So, it’s a great way for her to go out. Bye!!! That’s what you get for killing your brother, you heartless monster. Can I also point out that once again, Mandu is the one to take out Emilia. She did beat her in season 2 when Wolf, Dave and Benson couldn’t and now in season 3, she’s the one to finish the job. Don’t mess with Mandu lol. 

18. They head back to find where Scarlemagne, Lio and Song are but it’s almost too late because Hugo is dying. Kipo is in tears and I’m in tears too. Again, was it really necessary to kill him off? I felt like he’s more or less already redeemed as a character before this. He didn’t have to commit such a heroic act, which had cost his life. Ugh....And just like that, Hugo dies.....UGHHHHHH. I really don’t think he needed to die. If Catra (who committed just as many heinous acts, if not more than Hugo) got to live in She-Ra & The Princesses of Power, Hugo deserves to live too. I’m sorry...

19. Now it’s time for the epilogue set 5 years later, as told by an older Kipo. Let’s break it down:

Wolf’s Mega Corgi gave birth to a litter of puppies. Awww cuteness...

Wolf let her hair grow out and she looks AMAZING!!! Dayummmm

Benson and Troy own a successful restaurant together and they’re living the dream. Such domestic goals!

I got chills seeing Wolf and Benson walking side by side like that. They’ve grown up so much. It looks like they’re own their way to a picnic

Label and Zane is also running a gym together. Sweet!

Jamack is conductor for Las Vistas’s new transport system. 

Dave is now a guest lecturer at what is seems to be Lio and Song’s new research lab, where he talks about some of his research findings and theories. Well, mostly theories.

I love Kipo’s new do’

20. We find out that Kipo is updating Hugo (spiritually) what has everybody been up to on his birthday. 

Hugo gets a statue made in his honor, which is very fitting and Mandu...WOW MANDU has grown into an ADULT boar, with tusks and everything just like Bornak and Webber. 

21. Kipo meets up with her besties and her family and they have their wonderful picnic in commemoration of Hugo’s birthday. 

22. The scene cuts off to all of them having the time of their life riding on their Mega mutes. And that’s the official ending to the series. TEARS...

23. This has been an amazing show to watch, react and review. I can’t believe it only had 30 episodes but the story was so cohesive and felt complete on the most part. So you could say that this show wrapped up nicely. There are some loose ends that weren’t addressed/resolved at the end like the vaccine that Song and Lio were working on but I guess that could be something that’s explored further in future films hopefully. 

24. I will also be making a couple of video essays that will be posted to my YouTube channel, PeterSaidWhat; The first one will be my full spoiler review of the final season and the second video will be Troyson-focused. I can’t wait for all of you to watch them. And finally, I want to thank you all for reading my episodic reviews and going on this incredible journey with me. It’s been a pleasure to have Kipo be a part of my life and I’m sure yours as well. 

Much love,

Peter

[manggojooz]

Foolish Love, Fake Love (Part 7)

pairing: idol!Jungkook x bodyguard!reader

word count: ~2,900

genre: idol!au; angst; romance; drama; enemies to lovers sort of thing

warnings: none

previous part: Prologue | Part 1 | Part 2 |  Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 |  Part 6

summary: If all you can give me is a fake love, then I will be the fool to pretend that it is all true.

Taglist: @a-hopelessly-imaginative-girl  @dollwithluv @sweetcheeksdna @yeontanie21 @peachygiraffe14 @jeontaes-world

“Aigoo, when are you ever going to find a boyfriend at this rate... all the guys will be so scared after they see how you fangirl over this cook guy,” Ssamchun was this naggy even when he was younger.  

“It’s ‘Jungkook’, Ssamchun,” you glared at him while Yuri laughed silently.  

“What are you laughing at?” you suddenly diverted your annoyance jokingly towards Yuri.  

“Nothing... really... just wondering how you can be so invested in a guy who doesn’t even know you exist,” she replied.  

It had been more than a year since Yuri had joined the mixed martial arts school and it was natural that you two were growing increasingly reliant on each other given that most of the other people here were male.  

“It’s called true love, it’s real alright?” you retorted, gesturing at her to get ready to be taken down by you.  

“How can it be true love, when you don’t even know the real him? What if he’s super weird in real life? Or maybe he’s super snobbish... I mean he’s a celebrity after all...” Yuri was not planning to run away from a sparring session but she found the need to defend her position.  

You never really bothered to refute that point whenever Yuri makes it, and you never would have imagined that his conversation would actually be relevant one day.  

---

“Were you... one of them?” Jungkook’s voice trails off as he popped the question hesitantly.  

There was no answer and the air was brimming with awkward energy.

“I guess... I was a fan after all,” you answered weakly.

He felt strangely affected by your use of the past tense.  

“I guess this is why we always have to keep up an image... once people know the real us, they will just stop supporting us,” he murmurs as he turns to exit the room and once again, he was strangely affected when you said nothing to stop him.  

---

The company told you to rest at home the next day but somehow you found yourself back at the company close to evening time, after having spent the day doing nothing much.  

You were just about to change into your exercise attire but decided to sit down on the chair in the changing room and thought about the conversation you had with Jungkook yesterday.  

There is just something really pitiful about it. Who is he in the end? What the company wants him to be? What the fans want him to be? What he wants himself to be? What is the real Jungkook like, does he even know?

Everyone goes through this at some point; some may never find the answer. Who are we really? What are we living for? And in turn, what can we be happy for? Only when we know what we want to become, can we be truly happy when we achieve it.  

But for him... he probably has a lot to live up to, benchmarks that may not be what he wanted in the first place.

You took out your phone to send a message to him only to stop at the first word because you have no idea where to start. That was when you were reminded of the song that comforted you years back.  

You searched it up online and just as you had hit the send button, there was a knock on the door. When you opened the door you could see a frowning Yuri looking at Sejoon.  

“Can’t you just give her a break today? She just came to have dinner with me...” Yuri huffed.  

“It’s not that I don’t want to give her a break though...” Sejoon answers helplessly.  

“What is it?” you asked.  

---

The last thing you expected to happen was you sitting in a private room of a traditional but fancy sashimi restaurant across from Sejoon and Kijin – mainly due to the fact that you don’t even fancy sashimi.

“Sometimes I really want to slap some sense into him. It's been getting worse lately, he gets so sensitive whenever I ask why he’s doing all this for Yeonjoo” Sejoon suddenly lowered his volume as he spoke about the very two people who were sitting in the private room next to yours.  

Apparently, it was close to Yeonjoo’s birthday and this is a restaurant that she had wanted to visit for the longest time, which explains the need for you to be a decoy. Sejoon and you had to be really obvious when entering the restaurant, while Jungkook came later. On top of all that you heard that Yeonjoo had to really discreetly enter from the back of the restaurant.  

“I suppose this is another undercover operation? Aren't you afraid Director Lee would find out about this?” you were worried for Sejoon but equally so for yourself.  

Sejoon and Kijin both look up at you in surprise, “It was Director Lee who made the reservation, you didn’t know that?” Kijin blurted.  

“Oh really?” you tried to contain your surprise while glancing towards Sejoon.  

He seemed more interested in the intricately-plated sashimi platter that was just served.  

“... so, Director Lee is now OK with Jungkook meeting her in private?” you could not keep the curiosity in and had to ask.  

“Of course not. And it’s not even something I can fight for since Jungkook that brat wouldn’t even confirm if they are really together or not” Sejoon replied through a mouthful of raw fish.  

“Then what’s going on here?” you frowned from the confusion.  

“That jewellery store wanted him to do photoshoot with you but he wouldn’t do it... so Director Lee bribed him with one favour and this is what he asked her for... to give permission for...” Sejoon answers, at first matter-of-factly, but quickly ended the topic as he realises what this meant to you.  

So this was why he willingly did the photoshoot; it was weird that there wasn’t much protesting on that day given how much he must have hated the idea of taking “couple photos” with you. You were lost in all these thoughts and did not notice Sejoon clearing his throat awkwardly.  

“Are you... are you not going to have some?” he quickly tried to change the topic, hoping to distract you.  

“I don’t really like raw stuff” you answered curtly, only belatedly feeling sorry to Sejoon for being somewhat rude to him for no reason.  

“Oh, I guess Jungkook just ordered the same set for both rooms. Let me go get the menu and order something else for you...” Sejoon fumbled to get out from his seat.  

“It’s ok oppa, I’m not that hungry anyway” you replied with a customary smile this time.  

---

Kijin and Sejoon had no problems finishing the whole platter of sashimi on their own and giving you a rundown of the best types of sashimi during the different seasons when someone barges into the room. It was Jungkook.  

“Hyung!” Jungkook called out. Sejoon naturally responded but Jungkook looks past him to Yeonjoo’s manager instead, “Not you Hyung... Kijin Hyung... Did Yeonjoo’s sasaeng appear again?”  

Kijin looked visibly tensed when the question was asked and there was a long pause before he answered, “It was quiet for a while, but after your scandal with her, it started again.”  

Yeonjoo was now in the room too, telling Jungkook that it is nothing and that there was no need for him to worry so much.  

“Maybe you should hire bodyguards for her too...” Jungkook nagged at Kijin.  

“Hey Jeon Jungkook, we are working on that, we already have a few lined up, but we are just clearing background checks before we can officially use them... so stop saying these obvious things...” Kijin was his usual annoyed self.  

“Kijin Oppa,” Yeonjoo started to say something, “I wanted to use the washroom and they said it’s across the garden, can you come along?”  

“What? The washroom is outside?” Kijin responded exasperatedly and was cursing under his breath.

“I can take you there” Jungkook quickly volunteered.  

“Haha, that would be weird...” Yeonjoo laughed, “and we can’t be caught together again.”  

Jungkook wanted to rebut that, but he really couldn’t. The deal with Director Lee was clear – even if they were seen to be in the same restaurant today, the official story would be that he was here with you and Yeonjoo to celebrate her birthday, he can’t be captured alone with her... but what about you?  

“Wait... Y/N... why don’t you go with her?” Jungkook suddenly suggested.  

Your eyes widened and you were about to protest but Kijin has latched onto the idea, “Oh... oh oh, yeah since you are here... just go with her quickly and come back.”  

You looked towards Sejoon for some back up but you knew it was already a closed case, so when he only smiled sheepishly back at you, you gave a reluctant “alright” and dragged yourself out from your seat.  

---

The washroom was located in a separate building across the traditional Korean-styled garden. It was a beautiful path to walk through and you hardly had any complains. At the end of the garden to the left was a road that sloped steeply upwards to the carpark and the main entrance.  

As you approached the end of the scenic path, Yeonjoo suddenly decided to break the silence, “It must be quite tough for you to do your job and still have to keep up the fake relationship.”  

You quickly looked around in alarm, trying to make sure that no one was in the vicinity to hear the conversation even though she said it pretty softly.  

“Umm... yeah... it is” you stammered. “Should I wait for you outside or follow you in?” you asked her hastily to change the topic.  

“Mmmm...” she was was about to answer some kind of rattling noise alerted you.  

You turned sharply towards the sound and notices a humongous trolley stacked high with boxes hurtling down the slope towards the both of you. The boxes were tied to the trolley and the speed it came at you was incredibly fast.  

There was only a split second to make a decision so you instinctively pushed Yeonjoo away before trying to jump out of the way but there was just not enough time. Your shoulder ended up scraping the tower of boxes that came tumbling down heavily. Even though you were only hit by it peripherally, the force was enough to spin and throw you to the ground. A loud crash followed as the trolley topples over and some of the boxes falls onto you, the contents spilling everywhere, revealing that it had contained bags of rice and fruits.  

You turned to look at the top of the road – there was no one in sight. Where could this trolley have come from? You struggled to get back onto your feet and hastily made your way to where Yeonjoo was sitting in shock on the floor.  

“Are you alright? Are you able to get up?” you questioned.  

“What was that?” she uttered shakily.  

“I don’t know... Let’s go, quick... I don’t think it’s safe here...” you replied while reaching out a hand to help her up.  

---

Although you were in pain yourself, you let Yeonjoo rest her weight on you as you helped her back towards the traditional Hanok building that housed the private rooms. She was limping as she made her up the few tiny steps, and the moment Jungkook spotted her walk into the hallway he immediately rushed over. 

He started fussing incessantly, “Are you ok?! Did you get you hurt? What happened?! Is it serious, let me see it...”  

And suddenly the attention was all on you.  

“I told you to protect her... isn’t that your only job? Is this how you protect someone?” his tone couldn’t have been anymore accusing and you were mildly offended by that tone.

“Jungkook it’s not like that, there was a trolley that came out of nowhere and she pushed me aside to avoid it” Yeonjoo tried to explain and hold him back.  

“Do you not know how important it is for an idol not to get injured? If she sprained her ankle or broke an arm, what will you do about her upcoming activities?” Jungkook continued tearing into you.  

You remained silent, not because you did not want to respond, but because you felt offended that you had to respond.  

“Jungkook-ah, I think that’s enough... let’s find out what happened first... I’m sure she didn’t intend to hurt her either” Sejoon was stepping in and tugged at his arm to pull him away from you.  

Jungkook forcefully shakes off Sejoon, “Did you?” he hissed.  

There was silence all around. Nobody responded, he obviously took it too far. If you had any remnants of pity or feelings left for him, it vanished in that moment. 

The foolish fangirl was overtaken by the fearless fighter. You determinedly took a step closer to him and stared him straight in his eyes.  

“You can say that I did a bad job in protecting her, you can yell at me all you want for that, but don’t... don’t ever try to question my intentions. I know very well how important she is. And my job is to put my wellbeing and my life on the line to protect that. Do you think I'd joke around for something like this? For someone who is too cowardly to risk anything to protect the person you like, what right do you have to be saying all these to me?” you were almost gritting your teeth by the end of all this.  

Jungkook was clearly taken aback by your outburst and so was everyone else.

While they ravelled in your words, you turned to stalk off from the scene. There was a sharp pain in your ankles but it didn’t deter you, neither did the shouts from Sejoon calling your name after a few seconds.  

You somehow managed to make your way to the main road. Just as you raised your hand to hail a taxi, the throbbing pain in your left shoulder and upper back finally hits you hard. It was immensely painful... it must have been... because you broke down into tears at the roadside, crouching on the pavement.  

In that moment you questioned yourself – what is so important in this world that people risk their life and themselves for? No, at least they risk it for what is important to them. Why are you risking everything for what is important to someone else?  

---

“You know how it’s like, sometimes they are so noisy at the dorms, so I'd rather come to the company to do the recording on those days,” Yoongi was explaning to Myunghoon why he was at the office on an off-day from the backseat of their black van.  

“Fine... next time get one of the interns to come pick you up in that case” Myunghoon was griping as he drove towards the dorms but notices something queer on the roadside.  

“Oh?? Isn’t that Y/N? It looks like her...” he exclaimed.  

Yoongi looks out the tinted windows to see you curled up at the side of the pavement as Myunghoon drove past.  

“Should I turn back?” Myunghoon kept glancing into the side-view mirror.  

“Is that even a question?”  

---

The van stops along the kerb and Yoongi alights, checking again and again whether it is really you.  

“What’s going on?? What are doing here?? Please don’t tell me you are drunk...” his words were direct but his tone was somewhat timid.  

Just as his questioning ended, he catches on that you are crying.  

“Are... Are you ok?” he stammered.  

“Y/N! What are you doing here?” Myunghoon had walked over too. “Are you alright? Hey...”

Myunghoon reaches out to get you to stand up so that they can stop huddling over you but as he grabs your arm to help you up, you winced in pain.  

“It hurts...” you were crying really unglamourously.  

“What hurts? Did you hurt yourself?” Myunghoon asked you patiently.  

“Hey, we can’t keep standing here at the side of the road. Get in the car, we’ll take you to the hospital” Yoongi said rather gently and he notices the damage your jacket has sustained.  

You eventually got in the car. As they headed towards the hospital, you continued sniffling and you really wanted to whack yourself over the head for being such a weakling.  

Yoongi carefully hands you a tissue. You looked at him with your cheeks stained from all the tears, gratefully accepting it.  

“Thank you... again” you said. He just kept quiet while Myunghoon chattered away in the driver seat about how you should claim insurance if it is a work injury.  

“Are you always so nice to your staff? You usually look like the kind that wouldn’t really care much...” you asked Yoongi quite out of the blue.  

“I don’t know, the guy driving the car probably doesn’t think I’m very nice...” his answer was jokingly sarcastic.  

You laughed a tiny laugh while still dabbing away at your eyes and he too smiled a little.  

After a momentary pause, he said without looking at you, “You are right... I generally don’t bother making the effort to care... but you seem to be an exception.”  

[autoplaysdigimon]

Top Five Villains

HERE WE GO, THE FUN LIST.

#5 Gatomon

Controversial, maybe, to have her be on the Villains list as well, but she was a villainous character for a while.

I’m a real sucker for a good redemption storyline; failing that, at least a turncoat character. While Gatomon didn’t really commit any real atrocities onscreen to atone for later in the story, she still proved a fun villain while she was one. She was no nonsense, efficient, knew exactly what she was doing... if she’d stayed on Myotismon’s side, she could have been a real force to be reckoned with. One of the things that I’d have really liked to have seen explored more in this series was Gatomon’s time with Myotismon, and how much she’s changed since then.

Plus there’s something so weirdly entertaining about a group of creepy, ominous, obviously evil monsters and then a small white kitty cat who’s just as dangerous as them.

#4 Myotismon

This guy.

When this guy came onto the scene, the entire show changed. Devimon’s arc was fun, if a little generic; Etemon’s was very similar with a different villain, and then Demidevimon’s arc came along and we got a fun, goofy villain who can’t Evil properly. Even so, we knew he was following orders from a higher power, and Myotismon’s eventual appearance changed the dynamic from “Team Rocket Fools Children Repeatedly” to “oh shit an actual vampire is going to kill us”. And then the whole Eighth Digidestined thing happened... Plus, that #aesthetic, amirite? 

To tie into Gatomon’s thing up there, the Eighth Digidestined arc was one of the best of the season, if not the best. Taking the fight to the Real World made it more, well, real. It was fun as hell watching the parents interact with the Digimon, both good and bad, and finding out exactly what the kids had been up to lately. The kids watching their families getting dragged into the fight was TOP. NOTCH. Plus Myotismon actually knew what he was doing as a villain so.

He knew to go after the one kid without protection. He knew how to cut everything off effectively. He did take a shot at some of the kids when they were on their own, instead of thinking only of killing Kari. Death didn’t stop him the first time. Even when he pulled the classic villain “You Have Outlived Your Use” thing and killed his own minions, it was on Digimon who had already turned against him, like Wizardmon, Pumpkinmon, Gotsumon and (arguably) Darktyrannomon.

(No, wait, they’re still alive because he sent them to his Dungeon, isn’t that RIGHT DUB TEAM.)

(Even though pieces of them were left behind and dissolved on their own.)

(No, I’m still not over that.)

#3 Ogremon

Another redeemed villain! I just like them, okay

Maybe it’s just me, but just the act of Ogremon turning good at the end made me like him. He was a little bit generic in the Devimon arc, though at least he had the feud with Leomon to make him interesting. (Any logical reason to that, by the way? Was it just that we had these two Digimon who could fill in the character roles we’d set out for them? Nothing mythological about lions and ogres hating each other or anything? No? Okay then.)

All Ogremon really did in that first arc was serve as the henchman. He made some... interesting choices, and then he was absorbed into Devimon for power. And then he came out of the back of Devimon’s knee. Sure. When Devimon was defeated, he ran screaming off into the distance, shaking his fist and yelling “NEXT TIME, GADGET. NEXT TIIIIME.” The very act of bringing him back when he wasn’t employed by the Big Bad of the moment made him an interesting character, who had to atone for what he did. I’m a sucker for redemption, like I said, and the best part of it is watching them go soft.

Plus, how great is it to have multiple conflicting alliances within a group? When Leomon returned, even though Ogremon was firmly on the Digidestined side now, he had absolutely no problems with trying to immediately murder Leomon. There’s nothing wrong with that, right? They’re rivals, it’s just natural! He’s also kind of a shithead in general, even still.

Also, Ogremon is incredibly hard to draw. I’d just like to bring that up.

Okay, next!

#2 Etemon

HE’S A MONKEY WHO TALKS LIKE ELVIS, NEXT QUESTION.

But for real, Etemon is such a fucking great villain. Great character all around, I’d love a version where he was an ally or something, but how else would we get the trademark Elvis-laugh-turns-into-villainous-laugh thing that Etemon has going?! Come on, that’s great.

Devimon’s villainous style was one of corruption; he wasn’t all that powerful on his own, but by using the Black Gears he could build his own damn forces and control small areas. He only managed to control a handful of Digimon in the end. He was also taken out by a single Digimon in a single one-on-one, though you could argue that the others had weakened him by that point, they hadn’t really.

Etemon’s style was drastically different - he was far more comical, but far more dangerous. His introduction scene involved him panicking over the Digidestined already being in the area. He sang a lot, he cracked jokes, he threw childish tantrums, and again, he was a monkey who sounded like Elvis. There is nothing not awesome about this guy. And yes, he was deadlier - his main attack can undo Digivolutions and leave the Digimon vulnerable as hell. He ended up taking a couple of episodes to take out, only losing because another villain tried to sabotage him in the end.

And coming back partway through the Dark Masters arc as Metaletemon?! FUCK YEAH. Every pun he made, I laughed at and I don’t apologise for that. Even starting a series-wide tradition, he was stylish until the end.

Also he called Ikkakumon a goat that one time.

#1 Demidevimon

T H E  B A S T A R D  O R B

Nobody is surprised that he’s my #1, right? It was a close call between him and Etemon, but ultimately I just like Demidevimon’s arc more. We have Devimon and Etemon, as I discussed above. After that wave of villains who are dangerous because they’re powerful, we have one who is dangerous because he’s just a little bastard.

Demidevimon wasn’t strong. Most villains had their huge beatdown happen in the form of a Digimon Digivolving to Champion, Ultimate or Mega for the first time, Demidevimon had his when Patamon reached Rookie level again. In his debut episode. He was never a threat physically once the kids realised that he was not to be trusted. His arc came right after two arcs of the kids being stranded in this strange world together, only briefly separated - and then everyone was torn apart, and he could manipulate them individually. 

I’ve argued in the past that Demidevimon was a more effective manipulator than even Puppetmon, one of the Dark Masters, and I stand by it. Puppetmon managed to physically manipulate them with the dolls, sure, and he had Cherrymon convince Matt to attack Tai. But, uh, he didn’t exactly have to twist his arm very hard to get that to happen, and that was Cherrymon’s doing anyway. Plus you could argue that physically manipulating someone isn’t much of a social power as it is more a matter of strength. (also Puppetmon is more of a “play with them like toys” type, but still, being a literal puppetmaster, you’d think that manipulation was more of his domain than a BAT.) Demidevimon, however, managed to:

convince TK that Matt didn’t want him as a brother anymore and to ditch Tokomon

 nearly have TK, Tai and Agumon eat poisonous mind-wiping mushrooms

convince Digitamamon to keep Joe and Matt in the restaurant, simultaneously threatening Joe to help keep Matt there and sabotaged them constantly to manipulate them all further

trick Izzy and Tentomon into Vademon’s trap

tell the Gekomon and Otamamon about Mimi’s singing voice, somehow knowing that they’d end up hindering her progress somehow(???)

And, even after knowing that he’s an evil manipulating Digimon, he managed to convince Sora that she’d never manage to activate her crest, causing her to believe it in a self-fulfilling prophecy, even as she worked to sabotage his efforts otherwise.

I mean, apart from all that, I just like Demidevimon as a Digimon. He’s a tiny flying motherfucker and that’s great! He had some of my favourite lines, even his death was kind of tragically funny, and I have a clear bias when it comes to his voice acting, because I just like Derek Stephen Prince. He does it well! I don’t know how Demidevimon closes his eyes like that, though, those appear to be his pupils closing. I don’t even know.

Really, I just find great nostalgia in comical villains. They were all the rage back in the day, especially in children’s media. They’re still around sometimes - Doctor Doofenshmirtz from Phineas and Ferb, the Rubies from Steven Universe, the Ice King from Adventure Time, even Team Rocket from Pokemon are thriving still. Good, menacing villains are great and all, but where’s the fun?

Honourable Mentions

Scorpiomon, who probably benefited the most from the dub’s style - his constant cried of “hey, stop it, come baaaack” while chasing Joe and Mimi are more remnicient of a kid trying to get his toy back from the bully who just took it away from him than someone trying to murder children, and that’s just fucking hilarious.

Mimi, when she was briefly an antagonist in that one episode. Just as I really like Heel-Face turns, I really like Face-Heel turns, even temporarily, and even as petty as this whole thing was. It was the perfect trap for her, who just craved the comfort of home, and who could be easily confinced to go for more. And it was the perfect trap because she was the jailor and the jailed at the same time, trapped as long as her own selfishness would allow. It was one of my favourite episodes.

Datamon, who had his own agenda and didn’t care that he was stepping on Etemon’s toes to get what he wanted. Just like Leomon and Ogremon had conflicting alliances on the protagonist’s side, Datamon and Etemon were opposing forces on the antagonist’s side, and multiple villains fighting each other are always fun to see.

Actually, Etemon later fought Puppetmon as Metaletemon, didn’t he? Wow, dude just doesn’t get along with other villains.

Gizamon. Give them more lines, you cowards.

The Dark Masters, as a whole. Just as Myotismon changed the entire tone of the show, these guys took the entire first half of the show and murdered every safe thing about it. They immediately started playing with the Digidestined, fully intending to off them all right then and there as a team. They were competent, for the most part - only failing when they were forced to split up, and their dirty tricks could be dismantled one by one. I’ve never seen a more co-operative group of antagonists, who never tried to dethrone each other and take everything for themselves.

And okay, sure, Kokatorimon. Purely for this.

Dishonourable Mention

Apocalymon.

Look, dude, I’m sorry, you’re cool and everything, but where the fuck did you come from? We killed Piedmon, it’s over, no, wait, here’s one last guy, no wait he’s dead, nevermind. What?

The fact that Apocalymon didn’t get any fanfare before being dropped on the Digidestined without warning made him seem like an afterthought, like the writers forgot their own endgame until they got there. Even if there had been a mention of the effect that caused his existence before he showed up - a “hey, did you know that not every Digimon survives Digivolution? Their data just gets deleted or something,” really would have helped, but even then. 

Apocalymon’s existence in the show really highlights how disjointed the series as a whole is - Devimon has no relation to Etemon, who has no relation to Myotismon, who has no relation to the Dark Masters, who have no relation to Apocalymon. The kids face a constant load of “okay, so we beat this guy and we can go home, right? ...no, maybe this guy??” where every new villain is dropped on the like a hot potato, making their first appearance in less time after their existence is revealed in less time than it takes to heat up said hot potato. Myotismon is the only one who gets any decent buildup before his first appearance before the children, and he’s often said to be the best villain of the show, so see how that works?

Digimon Adventure is the story of a bunch of kids who were brought to the Digital World to take care of one guy, and hey, while you’re here, we’ve also got some sort of demon on this island causing trouble, and there’s this monkey threatening us, and also a vampire, and then these four have joined together... It was a fun adventure, and I love that it could be part of my childhood and my life, but wow it really needed a more cohesive throughline for the story.

I hate to leave this post on a negative note, because it was full of mostly nice things, so here’s another picture of the bastard orb.

Hahahaha, oh you silly little man.

[flowerfan2]

Group Texts Are Ridiculous (Or, Five-0 Starts a Group Text)

McDanno, T, A03

Summary:  After Steve leaves Oahu to go find himself, Five-0 starts a group text to keep in touch while Steve’s away.  Picks up after the end of Season 10.

Notes:  This story is set in the present, following 10x22, but there’s no COVID in it.  I wanted it to be fun.  The story is complete and will be posted over the next few weeks.  Many thanks as always to my awesome beta, @perryavenue. And apologies in advance for any formatting errors on tumblr, I spent forever fixing it up for A03 and it probably won’t translate easily at this point!

Chapter 1

April 2, 2020

Group message:  Tani Rey, Junior Reigns, Lou Grover

TR:  You guys going over to Steve’s to say goodbye tomorrow?

 JR:  Yeah.  Still think we should have a party.

 LG:  The man’s had two parties and a lunch already – how many send offs does he need?

 JR:  I don’t know, he didn’t seem to like them very much.  Maybe he needs a better one.  With just us.

 TR:  He’ll be fine.  Plus, there’s not really any time left.

 JR:  What about tonight?  He’s not coming in today, right?

 TR:  He’s got plans, Junes.

 JR:  He does?  I thought he said he had work to do around the house?  We could bring pizza and beer, help him out.

 LG:  He’s got plans with Danny.

 JR:  Danny won’t mind the help – he’d be happier supervising, anyway.

 TR:  Lou, what are we going to do with him?

 LG:  No idea.  Nothing’s worked so far.

 JR:  Are you guys talking about me?  That’s not very cool.  At least fill me in.

 TR:  Sweet Junes, if you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m not sure we can help.

 LG:  But bring that beer over to my place tonight, and I’ll do my best.

 TR:  I’ll bring chips.

  April 3, 2020

 JR:  Okay now I feel really bummed out.  Why did Steve leave Danny down on the beach like that?  We should have had a party.

 TR:  Chill, Junes, he’ll be ok.  He’s just sad.

 JR:  Do you mean Danny or Steve?

 LG:  Yes.

 JR:  But Steve is the one who decided to leave, he shouldn’t be sad – I don’t get it.

 LG:  It’s not a straightforward situation.

 TR:  Good one, Lou.

 JR:  I feel like I’m still missing something.

 TR:  Wouldn’t be the first time.

 JR:  Hey, should we add Adam to the text?  Because he’s standing over there petting Eddie and it feels kind of awkward that we’re all texting.

 TR:  Sure, Adam is definitely sort of not really barely on Five 0 these days… why not add Jerry while you’re at it?

 JR:  Okay.

 LG:  I think Tani was joking.  But we should add Danny and Steve, it’ll give us an easy way to keep in touch while Steve’s away.

 TR:  You think it’ll work?

 LG:  Look at that sad boy down there on the beach.  It couldn’t hurt.

 TR:  Sounds good.

 JR: …so should I add Adam or not?

  April 5, 2020

 JR has changed the name of the group text to Keeping in Touch with Commander McGarrett

 JR:  How’s your trip so far, Commander?

 SM:  No need to be so formal, Junior.  And good, thanks.  Ran into an old friend.

 TR:  Wow, so we’re going to start with that, are we?  You know Danny’s in the chat, right?

 DW:  How do you think Chin knew Steve’s flight info?

 TR:  Wait, so the old friend was Chin?

 SM:  Yeah, Catherine was surprised, too.  She thought I was going to Tahoe with her.  Not sure where she got that idea.

 DW:  Careful what you say, there are kids present.

 SM:  I didn’t say anything bad.

 DW:  You were thinking it.

 LG:  Not to change the subject or anything, but how are Abby and Sara doing?

 SM:  They’re great.  Sara’s adorable.  Smart as a whip, too.  

 DW:  You gonna stay in San Fran a while?

 SM:  Yeah, a week or two.  See the sights.  I hear they have some great Italian restaurants.

 DW:  Now you’re just being mean.

 SM:  Nothing could rival your lasagna, Danny.

 DW:  Aw, you’re forgiven.

 SM:  Anyway, thanks for giving Chin the heads up that I was coming, Danny.

 DW:  No problem.  Had to make sure you weren’t going to immediately start free climbing rock faces or something.  Need to at least let the jet lag settle.

 LG:  Say hi to the Kelly clan for me, will you?

 SM:  Of course.  Gotta go, Abby and Sara want to take me to Alcatraz.

 DW:  By boat, right?

 SM:  Danno, people swim away from Alcatraz, not to it.

 DW:  Leave it to you to start a new trend.

  <b>April 24, 2020</b>

 <i>JR has changed the name of the group text to</i> <b>Keeping in Touch with Steve</b>

 SM:  Hey, just want to let you guys know that I’m going to be out of contact for a while.

 DW:  As opposed to the past few days, when you answered approximately 5% of my texts?

 LG:  You headed out into the woods?

 SM:  Desert, but yeah.  Gonna do some camping.

 DW:  Maybe you’ll see a bear.  Beat some sense into you.

 JR:  Are there bears in the desert?

 TR:  No, but there are snakes.  And spiders. Be careful, those things can be vicious.

 DW:  Yeah, careful is his middle name.

 JR:  What’s Danny so mad about?

 TR:  Not the time, Junes.

 DW:  I’m not mad, I just know how he is.  He’s probably hoping to see some snakes.  Maybe shoot a rattler, cook one over his campfire.

 SM:  I have no intention of shooting anything, I’m just going camping.

 DW:  Since when is going anywhere without shooting something fun for you?

 SM:  I’m not exactly here to have fun.

 TR:  Um, Steve, you okay?

 SM:  Signing off.  Talk to you guys later.  Give Eddie a hug for me, I miss that big guy.

  April 25, 2020

 TR:  Junes, you awake?

 JR:  Yes, are you?

 JR:  That was a joke, I know you’re awake, you texted me first.

 JR:  This is just a text between us, right?

 TR:  Yeah, it’s just us.  Lou and I are done with the stake-out, we handed it off to HPD.  Lou’s driving me home.

 JR:  Did you talk to him about Danny and Steve?  Danny seemed pissed in the group text.  What’s going on?  

 TR:  I tried, but if Lou knows what’s going on, he’s being unusually tight lipped.

 JR:  I wish Danny was back at work.  It’s weird with both him and McGarrett not there.

 TR:  He’s got at least another two weeks until his ribs heal enough to get cleared to return to active duty, at least that’s what he told me yesterday.

 JR:  Can’t he come back to headquarters, though?  I would have thought he’d want to come back, especially with him being in charge now.

 TR:  Temporarily in charge.

 JR:  Yeah, whatever.  Didn’t really sound like that when the governor stopped by, did it?

 TR:  I don’t know, Junior, I really don’t.  But Danny doesn’t really seem eager to get back to work.  Maybe he’s had it with us.

 JR:  With Five-0?  You think he’s gonna do the restaurant thing again?

 TR:  No, that was a disaster.

 JR:  Well, I hope Danny comes back to Five-0.  Otherwise Adam might think he’s got a permanent spot.

 TR:  You really don’t like Adam much, do you?

 JR:  I don’t know, he seems to have an explanation for everything.  But I don’t trust him.  Not like Steve and Danny.

 TR:  I miss them too.  But Danny’s around anytime you want to talk to him.  He whispered in my ear for two hours yesterday when I was questioning that record store owner who tried his hand at money laundering.

 JR:  But Steve’s been pretty out of touch.

 TR:  I think that was the idea of his trip.  It’s definitely going to be a long summer.

 JR:  You think Steve won’t be back until fall?

 TR:  That’s my bet.  September, refreshed and ready to go.  But I really don’t have a clue.  What do you think?

 JR:  Sooner than September, that’s ages, Tani.  Why does he need to be away so long?

 TR:  You’d have to ask him.

 JR:  Tani?

 TR:  Yeah?

 JR:  One more thing… I think we forgot to put Quinn in the text group.

 TR:  Shit.

 May 4, 2020

 LG:  Grace has got skills, Danny.  She’s beating Steve at his own game!

 TR:  Um, what are you talking about, Lou?

 LG:  Steve and Grace went surfing in L.A.  Big waves, too.  Didn’t you see the pics on Facebook?

 DW:  You’re showing your age, Lou.  Facebook is for old people.

 LG:  Grace posted on it, she’s not old.

 DW:  She only puts pics on there when she wants her parents and grandparents to see them.  They’re carefully curated.

 TR:  Why am I not Facebook friends with Grace?  I feel left out.

 JR:  Ditto.

 DW:  You should both feel free to friend her.  I’m sure she’d friend you back.

 TR:  I’ll look for her insta instead.  Probably get better stuff.

 LG:  Do you even know Grace?

 TR:  Rude.

 JR:  Ditto again.

 DW:  That’s the same thing.

 JR:  No, I’m actually saying ditto for the second time.

 LG:  This group text is more ridiculous than Grace’s sanitized Facebook page.  

 TR:  At least if Steve’s surfing we know he made it out of the desert.

 LG:  On a horse with no name.

 DW:  Now you really sound old.

 TR:  Dad joke alert.

 LG:  What’s wrong with dad jokes?  I am a dad, after all.  I’m quite proud of being a dad.  I deserve to make dad jokes.

 TR:  Try making better ones, at least.

 LG:  Danny, you’re a proud dad.  Back me up here.

 DW:  Proud, yes.  As uncool as you, no.  

 TR:  Settle down, you’re both old and uncool, no need to get worked up about it.

 DW:  Fine.  This old guy is staring at some very nice looking steaks, and was planning on lighting the grill soon.  Assuming you’re still willing to eat my food despite my advanced age.

 JR:  Tani and I are getting in the car now, we’ll stop for beer on the way. Jerry said he was coming, too, and bringing fruit salad with no pineapple, just for you.

 DW:  Yet another reason I like Jerry.  And did you guys talk to Quinn and apologize for not including her in the group text?

 TR:  I did, and she actually seemed relieved not to have to deal with us all outside of work.

 DW:  Seriously?

 TR:  No, of course not.  I already added her.  She’s on now.

 QL:  Hi guys.  Danny, thanks for inviting me.  I’m bringing margaritas and guac.

 DW:  See, already glad you’re in the chat.  Sorry Tani forgot you.

 TR:  I did not forget Quinn!  

 LG:  Tani has been suitably repentant, Danny, don’t worry.  And do put my name on two of those steaks - Renee made her special chocolate cake with mocha buttercream.  We’ll be there soon.

 DW:  Does your wife think I’m dying or something?  She only makes that cake when someone’s sick.

 TR has changed the name of the group text to Chocolate Cake For the Detective’s Soul

 TR:  Maybe she thinks it’ll make your ribs heal faster, so you can come back to work and make sure Lou doesn’t do anything stupid.

 DW:  Tani, not for nothing, but it’s not Lou I’m worried about.

 TR:  That building wasn’t that tall.  I landed in the pool, and apprehended the suspect on the way down.

 DW:  I rest my case.

[softestsaddestbitch]

December TC Challenge

stole this from @elder-edda (sorry for creeping! just, given the usual demographic of the tc community I was excited to find another 20-smthg)

1) what color is your tc’s hair?

He has just, simple brown hair but he’s starting to go grey which, no lie, is 100% doing it for me.

2) is your tc married?

Yes? He doesn’t wear a ring and I believe she kept her last name which makes me think it’s more of a civil partnership since they’ve been together since the early 2000s at least. But he also will refer to her as “my wife” and was telling me once that they waited until “after they got married” before moving in together.

3) if yes, do you care? would you do something with them regardless of their marriage?

I know these questions are general but I do take offense at the idea of being a homewrecker/other woman. I’ve met his wife, she’s really nice.

4) what’s your worst memory with your tc?

I put my foot in my mouth SO OFTEN. Good lord. Especially my last semester at that school? He was acting weird and I had just realized after fucking ... four years?? that I romantically liked him. So I kept bringing up my weird age fixation and other bs bc I have adhd and am possibly autistic?? and can’t read a room to save my life.

5) what’s your best memory with your tc?

One year we had a really bad snowstorm, so bad in fact that I had my first-ever snow day. The college that I used to go to has four campuses across as many cities, and C has to drive in twice a week to my (old) town from his. Now, morning classes had been canceled but afternoon classes had been given the go-ahead. C, who does not check his emails until he arrives at campus, evidently did not get this message until he was already in town and therefore didn’t have a morning class, but did have an afternoon class. On this day I had a late morning class that had been reinstated, but my prof didn’t get that memo so I also was on campus but didn’t have a class. So I went to visit his office, which I had been doing throughout the semester (I didn’t have a class with him at the time) and we just ... hung out for like 2 hours. It was so nice and one of the anecdotes he told me still haunts me lol.

sidenote: at the time, I hadn’t yet realized that I liked him, but I still went out of my way to visit him. Damn I was a dumbass.

6) does anyone in your school know how you feel?

ish? I told a classmate but in a “haha joking” kinda way. And a friend who went to that school knows. No one at my current school knows.

7) does your tc know how you feel?

I think he might? might have a lil inkling which would explain why he started acting so weird my last semester. Or at the very least was told/realized how bad it could look that he was getting so chummy w/ a student.

8) do you think there’s any chance your tc reciprocates your feelings?

He and his wife have been together for around 20 years now. No. No, I don’t think so. Maybe in an alternate universe.

9) are you getting your tc a christmas present? if so, what is it?

I have in the past! Specifically like, a tin of cookies lol. I’ve also given him an actual present when I left. I do intend to send him a Christmas card every year but not this year because ... you know ... the apocalypse.

10) have you ever flirted with your tc?

Flirtation inherently has intent. So, no. How he interpreted our interactions I don’t know.

11) how long have you had a crush on them? what began it all?

SO! TIMELINE!

I was at my old school from September 2014-April 2019, I had C for the first time in September 2015. Like I mentioned above, I did not realize I had a crush on him until literally the middle of my final exam of my class with him December 2018, so I’ve only consciously had a crush for about two years now. However, as I also mentioned, I went out of my way to stop by his office, even when I didn’t have a class with him. And my relationship with/feelings towards him are complicated so I’m not going to say I did so solely because I like him, but I would put it maybe closer to somewhere in 2017. You don’t plan your schedule around someone you don’t feel strong feelings for.

12) do you believe you’ll get over them shortly after you stop taking their class/have the chance to spend time with them?

As of today, it has been been exactly a year and a half since I last him in person. In the time since, I have cried over missing him, routinely gone back to keep up with his current research projects, and made his picture a part of my home screen. I almost exclusively listen to the playlist I made for him -  so much so my Spotify Wrapped is pretty much that playlist with a few extras.

13) what kind of grades do you get in their class?

Haaaaaa pre-supension I was failing his classes. My first semester back I got .... a mid/high 70? and I finished my last class with him with an A+ and the essay I had written for his class had the highest grade between the two classes so..

14) does your tc ever do any tiny, little things that you adore?

When he puts a hand in his pocket and leans against the wall. When he tucks his hair behind his ear because he keeps falling in his face (he has long hair, a little past his shoulders). When he can’t stop himself from googling something even if its in the middle of class. How you can ask him anything at any time. The way he would chuckle at my jokes. How his handwriting hasn’t improved in decades. How easily he brushes off toxic masculinity. His candidness and willingness to share little anecdotes. The way he used to always smile whenever he saw me. That he goes home everyday to have lunch with his wife.

15) are you their favorite student?

I was! And it was obvious to other students that we had a friendly, casual relationship too. For a time, if his other students had questions about him they would ask me, and I usually had the answer. I didn’t matter in the long run, but I was. 

16) do you two share any tastes? movies, books, music, etc.

He’s a legal historian, I’m a baby legal/political historian. We also like the same historical cooking youtube channel.

17) is your teacher religious?

I doubt he would say he’s religious, but I feel like we have a similar relationship to religion which is to say no formal association, but had profound effects on our childhoods and subsequently, presumably, how we view things as adults.

18) do you masturbate to them?

Yes.

19) do you communicate with them outside of school?

I sent him a meme once. And asked about the socialist uprising scandal he was apart of. I also almost emailed him while at a museum exhibition with my history friend. These are all through email.

20) do you have any tc songs or songs you relate to your tc? what are they?

SO my number one song this year was “You are the Reason” by Calum Scott because, you guessed it, of him. But also:

I Lost a Friend - Finneas When You’re Ready - Shawn Mendes You Are in Love - Taylor Swift Break My Heart Right - James

& given the season, especially w/ what transpired last year, Last Christmas by Wham!

21) what’s your favorite thing your tc has said/memory you have with them?

One time he kinda trailed off in the middle of lecture after stating that he thought of xyz a particular way which contrasted one of the popular schools of thought, and the way he plainly said, “well, yeah, which I guess ... is I’m arguing it” almost like he was semi-surprised with himself has always stuck with me. 

But also, in addition the memory I shared earlier, we spent an hour and a half talking about grad school and what to expect and how to get there. 

22) do you plan to continue a relationship with them after you leave school?

I trid, I really did. But he doesn’t “socialize with students part or present” so I can’t exactly see him. But I did get some academic-related from him at the beginning of the year.

23) how will you deal during the summer? will you see him/her?

He’s a hermit who used my last vacation before I moved to go on all the vacations he had to postpone because he was working on his last book. And this past summer ... Covid. This question is obviously directed at high school students, but in general, he lives in the back of head always, and when I’m in my hometown for the summer my heart aches because theres a none-zero chance I’ll see him, but I know I won’t.

24) does your tc support gay rights?

Yes. He’s never been put in a position that I know of where he had to outright condemn homophobia, but in one of his classes, he actively made the choice to make the very first reading of the semester about how women in ancient times had more agency than assumed, and also how the woman in the case study was a lesbian.

25) what class do you have with them? And what period? Do you have them every day?

History classes. I won’t get into specifics because it’s kind of an eclectic mix and I’m paranoid someone from the area could come across this. But I had him twice a week every semester that I had him. Again this kind of question is more so applicable to high school students, not so much university students.

26) have you ever drifted out during a lecture thinking about them and missed information?

No. In his classes he is too enthralling, and I’m a good student otherwise.

27) have you stalked them online? what did you find out?

In theory. He’s a fifty-year-old history professor whose reaction to a description of the big lipped/tiny face filter on snapchat was “that sounds disgusting.” The man doesn’t have social media, and if he does those privacy settings are on so students can’t find him he thinks he’s very professional. I do visit his mini-bio section on the college website fairly often tho.

28) have you ever run into them outside of schools? what happened?

I did once. He introduced me to his wife, who said “oh you’re E! C has talked about you” and it apparently he had done so positively, and blew my mind because this was back when I was failing classes and also, as a person, I don’t believe that people think about me when I’m not there. They gave me a restaurant recommendation and afterwards his wife surprised me a they were leaving the restaurant because ... we had listened to them, and they also went there for lunch that day.

29) has your tc ever spoken of teacher-student relationships? what did they say?

It had recently come out that it had been found out that another professor had been in a relationship with a student and he’s the one that brought it up before class one day (with all of us not just me). He didn’t say anything for or against it, just that it was generally discouraged, but that most schools did have policies in place to handle the situation.

30) do you regret telling anyone about your tc? if you’ve kept it a secret, why have you done so?

Absolutely not. I can’t tell my best friends because they’d do nothing but give me shit for it and it would call every time I mention him into question. But the friends that I have told ... its been so freeing, and like a weight has been lifted from my heart. One friend in particular I unloaded on her all my emotional shit pertaining to him this past summer and she was so understanding it legit since then I’ve been less distraught when thinking about him. It still hurts, but it feels less like I’m suffocating now.

[noona-clock]

The Risk - Part 3

Genre: Fighter!AU

Pairing: Park Seo Joon x You (Female!Reader)

Warnings: None

Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 | Words: 2,382

Seo Joon sighed softly before he let his arms fall to his side, and he took a step back from the punching bag.

“What’s up?” his coach, Victor, asked. “Your head’s not in it today.”

“I just...” Seo Joon let out another sigh, and he honestly felt a little ridiculous. The reason he was having trouble focusing was... he couldn’t stop thinking about you.

He had been on one date with you -- one date! But it had been a really good date. He hadn’t kissed you when he’d dropped you off at your apartment, but it had still been a really good date. And now he couldn’t stop thinking about you.

“What was it like?” he asked, his brow furrowed as he shifted his gaze to his coach. “When you first met your husband?”

Predictably, Victor reacted with a bit of surprise. “When I -- what do you mean?”

“How did you feel? Did you know that he was...”

“...The One?” Victor replied. “Well, no... I didn’t realize that I knew at the time, but after a while... when I looked back on it, I actually did know. Deep down, from the very beginning, I just knew. It took me a while to really understand it, though.”

Seo Joon bit the inside of his cheek, very obviously thinking about something. “What was it like? Dating him?”

Victor let out a sputtering sigh and shrugged. “I don’t know. It was... Really, the only way to describe it is easy. It was easy. I didn’t feel like I had to try hard to make things work because they just... did. Why? What’s with the sudden interrogation about relationships?”

Seo Joon’s expression changed dramatically as he laughed softly, shaking his head a little. “Do you... remember our server? At the restaurant after the match last weekend?”

“Yes... I remember,” Victor replied with just a hint of a smirk on his lips.

“I went out with her the other night.”

“And now you can’t stop thinking about her?”

“It’s constant,” Seo Joon replied with a sigh, almost sounding frustrated. But, in a weird way, it was frustrating. He’d had girlfriends before, but he couldn’t remember ever feeling quite like this. It was strange, and he didn’t know what to do about it. “And the thing is, I actually said to her on our date that talking to her was easy.”

Victor raised his eyebrows, and after a few moments, he shrugged again. “Listen, Seo Joon, I’m not going to tell you that she’s The One just because she’s easy to talk to. Every relationship is different -- not that it’s a relationship, but you know what I mean. I’m here for you if you ever need to talk about it, but... the only thing I can tell you right now is don’t let her distract you. You’ve got a match coming up in a month, and if you don’t stay focused on your training, you’ll lose your undefeated record for the season.”

Seo Joon exhaled deeply through his mouth before looking at his coach and nodding once. “Got it,” he murmured.

Actually, that was good advice. He did need to stay focused, and he figured a month was a pretty good timeframe. He would take it easy, keep it casual with you over the next month. He wouldn’t rush into anything serious or make any crazy declarations of love, and after his next match in one month, he would see where things were. If he was still seeing you and still couldn’t stop thinking about you, he would take it to the next level.

But he could think more about that later. Right now, he needed to train.

Truly, there was nothing a good, hard workout session couldn’t fix.

After a few hours of punching, kicking, sparring, jogging, and lifting weights, Seo Joon found his mind was much clearer.

It was still filled with thoughts of you, of course, but he wasn’t nearly as... confused, I guess. He knew what he wanted to do, and he had a renewed vigor to just go ahead and do it.

As soon as he stepped out of the gym, freshly showered and changed, he slid his phone out of his pocket and pulled up his text conversation with you. He was going to take things slowly, yes, but not too slowly.

Seo Joon smiled to himself, putting his phone away and getting his keys out as he began to head over to the gym’s parking lot.

About 15 minutes later, you sent him your location and 20 minutes after that, he got back in his car and headed over to your university.

Once he found a place to park, he got out his phone and pulled up the map you’d messaged him. He navigated over to a building, walking through quads and weaving through small crowds of students and professors.

Just as he stopped in front of a somewhat small, three-story brick building and lifted his gaze up from his screen, the front doors opened and a wave of people began filing out.

Seo Joon’s eyes narrowed slightly as he searched the many faces walking toward him, and when they finally landed on a familiar one -- and a very pretty one, at that -- his heart did a little leap inside his chest.

You were talking to another girl, smiling and rolling your eyes playfully, but then your gaze caught his briefly. Seo Joon watched as you turned back to your friend and said goodbye before breaking off from the crowd and walking over to him.

“Hey,” you greeted with a shy smile. “I’m glad you found it okay.”

“I had no idea you could send your location like that,” Seo Joon replied instead of greeting you in return.

“Well, you learn something new every day,” you chuckled.

Seo Joon grinned at you, and he could’ve sworn he saw you take a breath, like your heart had just leaped inside your chest just as his had not two minutes ago.

“So, where are we going?” he asked as he slid his phone into the back pocket of his jeans.

“Ah, yes,” you said with an excited raise of your eyebrows. “Follow me. It’s not too far.”

You turned on your heel, and Seo Joon immediately followed you. He also immediately reached out and tugged at the strap of your backpack.

“I can carry this for you,” he said, attempting to slide it off your shoulder.

“Oh, no, that’s --”

But he really wasn’t going to give you much choice. He was the type of guy who carried any bag that any female he was walking with had, no matter what. He was going to make her walk on the inside of the sidewalk, he was going to hold open doors for her, and he was going to carry her bags. He didn’t care who she was, how old she was, and that was that!

“Thank you,” you said softly as he slid the backpack onto his own shoulders.

“You’re very welcome,” he murmured in reply. “How’s your day been so far? What class did you have just now?”

“It’s been fine,” you said with a gentle sigh. “It was a technical seminar on fiction writing. We have to read and analyze different literature and talk about different writing techniques and stuff. It’s actually pretty interesting.”

“What kind of stories do you like to write?” Seo Joon asked curiously.

“Mainly your typical, romantic, happy-ending stories,” you explained with a little laugh. “I’ve tried to do more dark, angsty stuff, but... it’s just not me.”

Seo Joon simply smiled, following you as you turned down a walkway. He liked that, actually. He liked that you liked writing happy stories, and he liked that you knew who you were and didn’t try to be anything different.

The two of you walked on for a few more minutes, engaging in some small talk until you began to slow your steps.

“Here we are,” you announced, gesturing toward what looked like... a garden. A very large garden. “My school has a really amazing horticulture and landscape design program, so our botanical gardens are pretty awesome. I come here if I need to chill or if I just want to take my mind off things. It’s one of my happy places.”

To be honest, Seo Joon was a little surprised you would take him to one of your happy places. Delighted, but surprised. Maybe that meant you were on the same wavelength as he was... maybe you were also constantly thinking about him.

“I had no idea this was here,” he said as he followed you through the entrance and down a cobblestone path lined with blooming shrubs. “I mean, I’ve never been to this school, but still. This place is huge.”

“And it’s open to the public,” you replied. “Free admission, too. It’s all school-funded, and the students do all of their projects here and stuff.”

“I can see why you like it.” Even just stepping over from the concrete sidewalk to the brick path of the garden felt like stepping into another world. It was now suddenly quiet and peaceful, and he could totally understand why you would come here to de-stress.

You led him over toward a stone bench in front of a trickling fountain, and he slid your backpack off his shoulders before perching next to you.

“I’m actually not a big nature person,” you said, stretching your legs out in front of you and crossing one ankle over the other. “But I like this kind of nature. Pretty nature with no bears or snakes.”

Seo Joon chuckled softly, and he had never been more tempted to reach over and take someone’s hand. Yours were clasped together in your lap right now, and it was all he could do not to just slide his hand over and link his own fingers through yours.

He let out a soft sigh because he was supposed to be casual about this. He wasn’t supposed to want to hold your hand already because he had a month until his match, and he needed to focus, and --

“Are you okay?” Your voice cut into his thoughts, and his eyebrows shot up his forehead as he looked over at you.

“Hm? Oh -- yeah, I’m just --”

Well... it might not be the best decision, but Seo Joon figured he should be honest.

“I just... haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since our date.”

He could see the hint of surprise in your face, but instead of saying something like ‘oh’ or getting flustered and embarrassed, you said, “Me too, actually.”

Seo Joon’s heart sped up quite a bit, and he turned to face you better, angling his legs toward yours so his knees touched your thigh.

“I don’t want to rush into anything,” he explained. “I have a match next month, and I need to stay focused and train.”

You simply nodded, your eyes wide as you listened intently. And adorably.

Goodness, he was just realizing how actually adorable you were.

“But... I like you.”

That was really all there was to it. He didn’t even really know you all that well, but... he liked you.

“I like that you know who you are, and you’re not afraid to be yourself,” he continued. “This sounds totally lame and cliche, but you’re honestly one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met.”

He saw your cheeks tinge with pink, and your lips curved into a bashful smile as you replied. “Well, there’s no use being someone I’m not. I would have to keep on pretending around you, and that would just be so exhausting. I can’t keep that up.”

Seo Joon laughed softly, and... he gave in to his urge to hold your hand. He reached over and wiggled his fingers in-between your clasped palms, linking them through yours.

As he gazed over at you, you gazed down at your hands, keeping your eyes fixed on them as you opened your mouth to speak again.

“I mean, there are always going to be people who like you and people who don’t, no matter who you are or what you’re like or how you act. What’s the point in being someone else? You might as well just be your true self and find people who like you and accept you for exactly who you are, not people who like you for who you’re pretending to be.”

Seo Joon studied you for a few moments, long enough for you to shift your gaze up to look back at him.

“You said you like writing romance stories?” he asked.

“...Yeah,” you replied with a curious grin. 

“Do you have plans to do any self-help books? Because it sounds like you have a lot to say on that subject,” he told you with a tiny, admiring smirk.

“No,” you laughed, shaking your head. “No self-help books. Just fiction.”

Seo Joon squeezed your hand slightly, and after you squeezed it back, he said, “Well, I like who you are. A lot.”

You leaned over and bumped his arm gently with your shoulder. “I like you, too.”

All of a sudden, the image of kissing you popped into Seo Joon’s head. He so vividly pictured himself leaning over and capturing your lips in a soft kiss, cradling your lips as delicately as if you were made of glass.

Apparently, he was not alone in these thoughts, because before he could even say anything -- ask for your permission, perhaps -- you had leaned over and done just that.

You’d kissed him.

But, almost as quickly as it had happened, it was over. You had pulled away, and Seo Joon was blinking his eyes open.

“Sorry,” you breathed, and you were still close enough that Seo Joon could feel your breath glide over his mouth.

Of course, his first instinct was to tell you there was absolutely no reason to apologize. You had nothing to be sorry about and, in fact, he had been thinking about kissing you, too.

But... he figured he didn’t need to say any of that.

He didn’t need to say anything.

He simply closed the gap in-between you and kissed you back.

Part 4

[kuratoki]

Changes 08

I have nothing to say :) I hope you guys are enjoying this!

Do you agree that things change in time? Well four years abroad would tell wouldn’t it?

Pairing: dancer! Reader x dancer! Jeno ft. NCT

Words: 2886

Warning: Mild swearing/health issues?

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 06.5 - 7

“I think today should be our last session.” Jeno said as he and Yeeun began what he was deeming their last workshop. There was nothing more he could help her with and the rest was now up to her own practicing.

“Are you sure? I still think I need..” Yeeun started but Jeno cut her off. 

“Your moves and timing are fine Yeeun.” Jeno said, “You just need to have more control. For someone who spends a lot of her time with a dance club outside our academy, your control seems to be the most lacking. That’s something I can’t fix.” 

She wasn’t going to admit that it hurt but it did. To hear something like that from someone she liked a lot hurt just as much and she frowned. 

“So this is it then?” she asked and bit her lip, “Is there…” 

She was cut off by the sound of a phone ringing and she watched Jeno run to the stereo to answer it, “I thought you said we had to keep our phones on silent.” she commented.

“I set my phone so that Y/N’s calls ring every time. I trust her enough not to call me during class or when she knows I’m busy unless its an emergency.” he said and quickly picked up, “Hey, what’s up?”

“Sorry to bother you...Seol and Nal got out.” he heard you say over the line.

“Crap.” Jeno said facepalming, “Where are they?” 

“My house...” you said innocently and Jeno groaned.

“You stole my cats again? What about Bongsik?” he asked, preparing for your answer.

“Oh, she actually got out. Hana’s looking for her  around my yard and I’m looking for her around yours.” you said and Jeno rubbed his temples, “When did she become an outside cat? She used to hate being close to open doors.”

“I got a leash and started taking her on walks cause she was getting too fat. Anyways, thanks for telling me. Text me when you find her and don’t forget my clothes. I’ll kill you if you can’t find her.” Jeno fake threatened and smiled when he heard you giggle.

“Would you really kill me though?” you asked innocently.

“Nah, then I wouldn’t have anyone pretty to sit behind in English.” he responded automatically not knowing the effects of his words on both girls that heard it.

After a moment of silence you cleared your throat, “Anyways, I’ll let you get back to your workshop. See you in like an hourish.” You hung up before he could even say goodbye.

“Sorry about that.” Jeno said, turning to Yeeun, completely missing the hurt in her eyes, “Shall we get started?”

“So is this...really our last session?” she asked Jeno once the two were done. Jeno was reading your text about how you found Bongsik sitting on one of the chairs on your patio and was now safely back in his house. Seol and Nal however, were apparently in your napping and you didn’t have the heart to move them.

“I have to give my progress report to our instructor next week and I see no reason why you need more help. It’s all on you now.” Jeno answered and froze when he felt arms wrap around his waist, “Yeeun…”

“I just thought...we’d get closer…” she said, her voice shaking from the nerves, “I’ve had a lot of fun with you these last few weeks and figured we had a connection.” her grip tightened and Jeno looked to the door. If anyone walked in at that moment they would probably get the wrong idea. Little did he know…

Gently but forcibly removing her arms, he turned around and gently pushed her back by her shoulders so there was a distance between them, making her squirm under his gaze. 

“I’m not sure what gave you that message...and I’m sorry if it seemed like I led you on. But Yeeun, I never felt that way about you.” he said and saw the hurt in her eyes.

“But you could try right? Even if we don’t continue the workshops, we could always just hang out. See if somethings there?” she tried and Jeno sighed. 

“I wouldn’t be able to feel that way about you when a part of my heart is already with someone else.” Jeno stated and Yeeun froze, her mind going to the one other person she knew. 

“It’s that Y/N girl right?” she asked with furrowed eyebrows, “How can you say that when you’ve only known her for a few weeks? You probably don’t even know her past.” 

“Is that what you really think?” he asked, confused, “Everyone knows that Y/N and I grew up together.” 

“Y-you grew up together?” Yeeun stuttered, surprised, “So that means that your childhood love that everyone talked about was…” 

Jeno nodded, shoving his hands in his pockets knowing he had to be completely with Yeeun and himself, “I’m sorry if it seems like I led you on or anything it was never my intention, but I can’t be with someone else knowing that I still have a chance with her.” 

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation and you peeked your head in, noting Yeeuns red face.

Clearing his throat, Jeno made his way over to you, “Hey did you just get here?” 

What he didn’t know was that you and Hana had arrived quite a bit earlier and saw the whole confession. When you saw Yeeun wrap your arms around him, it took a lot in you not to run in there to rip her arms away but another part of you wanted to see what Jeno would do. You were surprised by his own confession and how he handled the situation as a whole...just maybe...

“Was I interrupting?” you asked quietly motioning to Yeeun who looked uncomfortable in your presence.

Jeno let out a sigh and shook his head, offering you a tired smile, “I’ll tell you later?” 

“Throw in hot chocolate and you have yourself a deal.” you said smiling, making the tiredness in Jeno decrease significantly and handed him the bag that contained his change of clothes, purposely brushing your hand against his, catching him by surprise.

“Thanks.” he said looking at your hoodie and leggings combo, his eyes narrowing, “That wasn’t the hoodie I gave you earlier…” 

“I found this one in my bedroom when I was changing. Not my fault you’re leaving clothes all over the place.” you retorted, “Plus, this one looks better on me.” you stuck your tongue out playfully making Jeno chuckle.

“Shall we get going then?” Jeno asked and you nodded “I’ll get changed after. The guys are probably fooling around and waiting.”

“Are you guys going out?” Yeeun asked suddenly, noting Jeno’s hand that was resting on the small of your back, ready to lead you out. 

“Yuta rented out a private room at some restaurant so a large group of us are getting dinner,” you said, even though you didn’t like her, you liked seeing the way she reacted when you were kind to her, “Do you want to come with?” you asked with a smile before Jeno could stop you.

Wanting to see if what Jeno said was real or not, she agreed.

“Cool, why don’t you get changed and then meet us at the NCT practice room?” you suggested just as your phone went off and an all too familiar name popped up, “On second thought,  I have to take this. I’ll meet you guys at the practice room.” you said and quickly left the room to find a private place.

“My dear Jongin, how are you?” you answered and heard the person on the other line chuckle.

“I’m fine my lovely Princess, do you have time to chat? I’m actually on my way to Korea right now and I’d like to meet with you and the alien when I finish a few meetings.” Jongin said and you could hear the sound of the airport through the line, “How do you guys like SMAA?” 

“I have a bit of time. I’m meeting a few friends for dinner and Renjun’s probably on the phone with Mia.” you answered, “SMAA is exactly how you described it to be. It’s just...a clash of the past and present and I’m not sure where I stand in all this.”

“Right, Mia told me something about that. Childhood friends meet your camp friends meet your boarding school friends.” Jongin said, “Anyways, it’s that time of year again for the Selects Junior team and if I recall, after this year, you will no longer be considered a junior.” Jongin started.

“That is correct, as long as I pass the year that is.” you confirmed, “What does it have to do anything?”

“The board was talking about what ballet they wanted to showcase for the season and someone mentioned Swan Lake. As you recall, you were our lovely Princess two years ago and before I continue, this is from the board, I had nothing to do with this.” Jongin disclaimed and for some reason, you had a feeling you weren’t going to like what he was going to say next.

“Anne-Marie has requested that instead of having auditions at the various schools again for the lead roles, she’d like you and Renjun to return to reprise your roles as Odette and the Prince.” he finished and when he didn’t hear you speak for a few minutes Jongin got worried, “Y/N?”

“Yea, I’m still here.” you said taking a breath, thinking about what Jongin had just suggested, “Why us?”

“Request from the Board.” Jongin said, “I’ll explain more when we meet up but I just wanted to let you know just in case she contacts you first. I gotta catch my plane but I’ll call you in a few days on where to meet. Think about it.” 

“I will...it’s just...wow. She wants us again? Even after all the mess ups?” you asked, leaning against the wall when you felt yourself get light headed and you slowly sat yourself down.

“You were still one of the best and she knows you put your all in despite the injury.” Jongin reasoned, “Like I said, think about it okay? Enjoy your dinner Y/N.” 

“I’ll see you in a few days.” you said and hung up quickly before putting your head between your legs in order to get rid of the dizziness and let out a breath.

“Y/N? Are you okay?” you heard Hana’s voice come from down the hallway and you looked up to see Jeno, Jaemin, Hana and Jisung walking towards you, they must’ve been ready to leave for dinner and had come to look for you. 

It only took one look for Jisung before he started running towards you, knowing exactly what the issue was.

“I’m fine.” you said, shaking your head quickly to get rid of the dizziness, “I was just on the phone.”

“Lie to someone else please.” Jisung stated kneeling down next to you and took your hand in his.  Despite the layers you were wearing, your hand was still cold, “You’ve been neglecting your health again haven’t you. When was the last time you took your supplements?” he nagged and went into his backpack, taking out a package of pills, “At least if you end up in the hospital this time, I won’t have to fly eleven hours to care for you.” he muttered, completely forgetting who he was with.

“What’s going on?” Jeno asked, sitting next to you while Jaemin and Hana sat in front, watching Jisung check various parts of your upper body as if he’d been doing this his whole life.  He noted your pale complexion and the pill package, “You were fine earlier.” 

“I am fine. Jisung’s overreacting.” you said but took the pills and water bottle Jisung offered you anyways knowing the dancer wouldn’t take no for an answer, “I can’t believe you still have these.” 

“I carry them around in my bag for situations like this. I learnt my lesson after the hospital visit.” Jisung stated and looked at the other three, “She has a major iron deficiency that she has to maintain with supplements because what she eats doesn’t absorb enough. If she doesn’t, she’s prone to fainting.” 

“So that’s what happened during competition season last year. Is that how you got your concussion?” Hana asked, completely forgetting that Jeno and Jaemin were still in the dark about your past.

“Concussion?” Jeno and Jaemin asked looking at you with concern and you waved it off.

“It was my first year preparing for the season alone since Renjun left at the end of the previous year and I guess I neglected my health a bit. I fell off the stage during my performance and apparently hit my head really hard.” you admitted sheepishly, “I woke up two days later and found Jisung by my hospital bed looking like he just got off the plane.

Jenos eyes snapped to Jisung who looked like he was holding something in when the boy puffed his cheeks out and bit his lip before letting out a shaky breath. This was obviously a memory that was tough for him and the way that Jisung shifted close to you to touch your hands again to ensure that the supplements were indeed doing their job told him that he was wary even now.

“I wouldn’t have found out if I didn’t call you after your competition was supposed to finish. To see how you did.” Jisung said with a huff, “The nurse answered your phone and I just remember talking to Tae and booking the first flight out. I couldn’t even think.” 

“So thats why you disappeared so suddenly after regionals were over.” Jaemin finally said after a moment of silence, “Why didn’t you tell anyone? We would’ve been there for you.”

“I wasn’t thinking straight.” Jisung reasoned, leaning his head against your shoulder,“ She was alone while her parents were on the other side of the world. So I stayed with her till we had to leave for camp. There were a few people that came to visit her from time to time but they never stayed long.”

“I was grateful for him being there though. Sicheng wouldn’t stop nagging me after he found out when he saw us show up together at camp.” you said with a sigh, “Are we ready to go? Everyones probably waiting.” 

“They all left already and we sent Yeeun with Yukhei.” Hana said, as Jeno helped you up, holding your small backpack in the process.

“You good?” he asked, his hand securing you by the arm.

“I’m good.” you said with a reassuring smile and turned to Jisung and gave him a hug, “Thanks for always having my back...Chicken Little.” you whispered, laughing when he playfully pushed you away.

“Why did you have to kill a moment like that for?!” he whined, waving his arms to the side.

“Is he okay?” Jaemin asked as you continued to laugh while Jisung rambled about what you could and could not call him in front of people.

“Probably called him Chicken Little again.” Hana said giggling behind her hand.

Jeno tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes, “Don’t see it.” 

“Wait till he wears his glasses.” Hana said, “I think Y/N has a photo of him in character. You should ask. Same shirt, shorts and we even styled his hair a certain way.”

Hana’s last comment seemed to catch both yours and Jisungs attention and the two of you looked at her with mouths agape.

“YOU TOLD ME YOU DELETED THE PHOTO!!!” Jisung exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at you, “Delete it!” 

“We...should be getting to dinner now right?” you asked, pretending you didn’t hear Jisung, “Don’t want to keep everyone waiting.” you said and grabbed Hana’s arm as the two of you took off down the hall, a frazzled Jisung chasing the two of you at almost the same speed.

Jeno and Jaemin watched the three of you with amused smiles and Jeno leaned towards Jaemin, “Hana has a copy right?” 

“Nope, just Y/N. She showed me one time and I couldn’t stop laughing. The resemblance is something else.” Jaemin said as the two of them trailed behind you all the while listening to Jisungs frustrated rants about how he regrets being your friends but also doesn’t because everyone else around them were a variety of things.

This caused the duo to walk faster and smack the boy in the head simultaneously.

“You know in a typical situation like this.” Jeno stated, getting close to Jisungs face so you and Hana wouldn’t hear.

“You would be considered the fifth wheel.” Jaemin finished doing the same.

Pushing the two away, Jisung rolled his eyes. “Yea, when Jeno actually mans up and asks Y/N out officially. Times  ticking dude.”

“I know, I know. Gosh, I feel like you guys are more invested in my relationship then I am.” Jeno said as the tables turned on him.

“We are. That’s the messed up part about it.” Jaemin deadpanned, “But Jisungs right, times ticking.” 

“Soon.” Jeno said with a nod, watching you whisper something to Hana making the two of you giggle and you turned your head to look at him with a bright smile, 

“I promise.” 

It was time to set his plan in motion.

[kim-lexie]

week-by-week playback: crash landing on you.

just to preface, pardon that some of this may not be cohesive. i made this a separate post because otherwise the collective review would be insanely long. and i wanted to keep a space where i just let my thoughts from each episode exist, so here it it. 

if you want to see my semi cohesive thoughts from the themes and characters here is my actual review. crash landing on you.

*spoiler alert*

ep 1-2 my goodness this man, hyun bin (aka ri jung hyuk in this drama) is dreamy as ever. *like swoons*. son ye-jin is perfect, i loved her in "something in the rain” and this character is completely different and i am loving it. this free easy going aide of this actress. she is adorable and i love how in a crazy situation the first thing she thinks is ‘you’re totally my type’ bc seriously a girl after my own heart.

now the concept is completely ridiculous but i’ll jump on the band wagon and live my best life bc i think this is going to be a unique concept that i fall for. the fact that she doesn’t listen to him and goes directly into north korea i’m like girl you’re crazy.

i love how they added the clips at the end of the episode and how he was laughing at her. precious how he’s already falling for her quirky side. i am intrigued to see where their relationship first started like how did they meet before how did he leave north korea and enter back in as a general captain?!? so many questions and i’m so excited.

ep 3-4.  kim ju-meok (captain ri’s company of 5) saying i haven’t seen any drama characters that don’t fall in love in that situation. hahaha same dude same. when the guy was spying, jung man-bok, and trying to keep up with the drama plot. hahaha

i loved when the ladies tried to see her and she made him act all sweet walking him out the door.

he said all nice things to the plant!!!

ep 5-6. his relationship with his fiancé is soooo weird. and her family must be super high up in north korea. same to his family though. his mom has an ostrich in her yard!!! i love how they got stuck on the train on their journey to pyeongyang. i love how he jumps to his feet to get her anything she wants. they’re precious together. i’m excited to see where it takes us bc now that the man on the run knows that she is there, there is leverage. he was the first guy she waited for TT. i’m really enjoying the little tidbit scenes at the ending.

he’s gonna keep a photo of her even though he said it was silly to get a momento. the clarification between destiny and coincidence.

ri jeong-hyeok do you want to be my destiny. ‘as long as you stay in my sight you’ll be safe, as long as she is in my sight i will protect her.’

ep 7-8. her character growth since meeting him is extensive and i love to see this side of her not as callused and closed off but rather vulnerable.

‘so happens that you’ve become a special person to me

for once i had to protect you too.’

the heart on his uniform she stitched up.

it’s his brothers song. TT

him going to find her bc she might have been waiting in him. he’s not wrong. and her being concerned with him not being in the hospital bc of his injuries.

your life here might be shattered bc of me.

and i don’t like that.

she’s gets kidnapped. after all this. she even decorated a christmas tree and got him a gift.

held my breath for a solid minute after that gunshot.

ep 9-10. yes his freaking dad in these moments where i’m crying just provides the perfect comedic relief bc he can’t freaking believe what’s happening in front of him. “you make my heart flutter. the other dude.” even when you didn’t know it you saved my life. when he played the song for the first and last time for his brother.

how would i forget about a woman who feel from the sky? -jeong-hyeok

i didnt fall. i descended. -se ri

she freaking wrote i love you with the books.

his brother was such a good person and got the medicine for his friends baby.

when they had to say goodbye to each other. and when their eyes met once again.

ep 11-12. this episode. i loved seeing how the comrades reacted to the daily living of those in seoul. they were too precious. absolutely terrifying that cheol-gang made his way into a security. like what kind of background check did they get?!? like. come on.  

cannot believe that jeong-hyeok found her in an echoing parking garage. it’s destiny.

seo dan got the term ‘sweetmeat’ from seri stop it!!

all of the almost encounters had me dying, while the boys were trying to track down captain ri. the gaming to ignoring the call for chicken.

they wanted to recruit kwang-beom for an agency. they’re like your cover was blown bro.

talking about a future when he didn’t go back. married with twins. and he’ll play piano again.

them dresses as south koreans got me like. my goodness. they’re too much. them all hugging was beautiful. he missed them all so much.

her mother left her at the beach. like what the even. her sister in law gave him her address what the even, this side of her family is wack.

they surprised her for her birthday. my goodness. this moment i’m weeping then it’s like dang that would have been cute.

i’ll be thankful the person i love is still breathing.

and it will be a good year.

-ri jeong hyeok

ep 13-14. the couple rings.

our boys. slaying it. my gosh. when they’re all surrounding her after she was shot. and crying my heart broke.

i never played the piano. and i’ve never told anyone. until you crash landed into my word one day. that’s how i lived. but now i’ved changed. even if i have to worry about losing you, i want to have you in my life. even if it breaks my heart bc it’s a dream that can’t come true, i’d like to sincerely dream of a future. so please live. and listen to my words i still have stories that i haven’t told you yet. -ri jeong-hyeok

when she finally woke up and he ran in. the fact that the mole wire tapped the room while she was unconscious. and then the tape of her mom telling her and wanting to thank seri and ask for forgiveness, and also the fact that her oppa and sister in law wanted her gone...wack.

when he was showing her his scars and the boys walked in and thought something scandalous was up, i died laughing.

i love them together. “they’re curious about your face. i understand bc you look great from the back.” -seri with regards to the paparazzi posting a photo of him online.

the split second after cheol-gang died and ri jeong-hyeok contemplated ending his life, because he didnt know what would happen when he went back to north korea.

while seung-jung was hiding in the market after he ran away from his captors, and the orphans collectively sang that sad song to distract the officers and protect him.

when seung-jung gave seo dan the ring that she picked up from the store so he could give it to seri who gave it to the pawn shop, and he picked it back up and proposed to seo dan. i weeped, because why does this have to be so hard.

when the NIS was collecting data on the ‘spies’: purchases at internet cafe, downloading videos of his favorite drama star, chicken restaurant, etc.  i can’t.

him deciding to go protect her even though he missed his chance of leaving the north with his life. and that she would be the one crying for him once he died made him sad and happy.

seri would make the same decision again. to meet the people and keep the experiences she had. “the wind blows to move in, not to stay.”

the exchange at the boarder was all too much. they all had to say goodbye so quickly.

ep 15-16. her family is wack. thank goodness seodan was able to get her revenge and get all the information from the chinese gang to turn over her older brother.

he wrote her back in the bookshelf. and is sending her notes after he’s gone. her breakdown in the kitchen when she saw all that he left for her. and receipts.

them going for walks at the same time of day to have a shared moment.

all of captain ri’s men reminiscing of the good things seoul had. internet. electricity.

i love that seri made a limited edition product to pay tribute to the ladies that helped her in the north.

he got her a freaking plant. i can’t. she is carrying for the plant like a baby and taking it around with her. got to say nice things to it. i knew it the last thing she said was rihoseok. (honestly wanted it to be a tomato plant)

“season changed but messages kept coming.” i really love this.

“it was eldewiss let’s meet in the country where these flowers bloom.” tell me they meet. please. oh please.

when ri jeong-hyeok broke the news that he was moving on to become a pianist and that the new captain is not a handsome man. the ladies of the village faces just dropped. i can’t.

“he found me every time. and i’m sure he’ll find me again someday.” -seri

“edelweiss symbolizes precious memories. what should i do jeonghyeok? it’s impossible for me to herons your just as a memory. so even if we don’t meet this year, maybe next year. if that doesn’t work too, i’ll anticipate the year after that. until the day you find me i’ll be waiting and praying.” -seri

stop it she is going to go paragliding and meet him again. come on.

eun-dong saying he misses his sister. i love them.

most wonderful two weeks of the year. stop it they have a house together in switzerland. and they are living happily ever after.

i really don’t want it to end...